From Slogan to Substance
Col Satish Singh Lalotra
slalotra4729@gmail.com
In official files and ceremonial speeches that have nowadays become the wont of modern day politicians all across India, some subjects ring louder vis a vis others from these public representatives. One such subject that has been doing the rounds Pan-India pertains to ‘Border area sports’.
The topic sounds an inclusive, all empowering initiative-one that is waiting to be recoiled to its full length so as to realize the latent promises, opportunities, talent nurturing and national integration for youth living along India’s sensitive frontiers. India has one of the longest land frontiers that abut its neighbouring countries ranging from Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar to Sri Lanka. Each land frontier has its own peculiarities that Willy nilly imposes its own terms of reference when it comes to integration of our frontier states in the union. Countless of our denizens who live in such frontier states are the unannounced sentinels of India, who stand guard to the sovereignty and integrity of our country. And as ever, the youth of these frontier areas are at the forefront of efforts that go into making a safe haven for those of us who live in the hinterland. But can these youth remain motivated as ever to be the ambassadors of peace, stability and resilience without so much as investing into their future? With adrenaline pumping into their veins, and an unspoken will to do something of consequence, the youth particularly are vulnerable if their energies are not channelized into the right direction. Indulgence into sports is an arena that need not be emphasized with regard to youth. Rather youth and sports are complementary to each other, and draw sustenance for their very being. No sports are complete without youth and vice versa.
This piece of write up of mine has its genesis in the news emanating from the UT of J&K wherein a few days back the Dy CM announced and inaugurated ‘Border area sports festival’ with much fanfare at sports stadium Nowshera. So far so good; but mouthing mere platitudes and espousing the cause of so called ‘Border area sports’ enough on the platter of youth of our border areas? Or there needs to be done more in the direct fructification of such a noble cause? I would like to draw attention of the readers of this write up of mine that few years back India took up the extraordinary route of integration of our border areas by kick starting the seminal programme going by the name -‘VVP ( Vibrant village programme) from the far eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. With Walong wearing the crown of first such border town under the VVP, it is never too late for India to integrate our border areas into the mainstream. Under this VVP, comes the sports infra to help our youth find their feet and also glory by partaking into such physical activities. It is no brainer that sporting activities have both a direct and indirect bearing that cultivates physical as well as moral courage in an individual; so very essential for a well-rounded personality. The international border as well as the Line of control ( LC) districts of J&K are home to thousands of young boys and girls, all of impressionable age and growing under extraordinary circumstances. The type of situations presented to such a wide cross section of young population in J&K is seldom visited upon rest of India. Frequent cease fire violations ( CFVs), displacements, economic hardships, and psychological stress are part of everyday life. For such youth , sports is not another media of entrainment, but rather a vital social intervention that confirms purpose in life, instills confidence and opens pathways beyond hardship.
Yet despite repeated announcements, schemes, and token events border area sports in Jammu region remains largely cosmetic. Failing to reach border area villages and communities, the effort in cultivation of border area sports remains ‘blindsided’ to a very large extent. Now what are the problems that are plaguing this idea from taking firm roots in the frontier areas of Jammu region? The most visible reason for this failure of border area sports not taking off, despite plethora of reassurances mouthed by the big wigs in the ruling dispensation of Jammu division is the absence of basic infra concerning sports and concomitant problems emerging out of it. While district headquarters and urban centers may boast of sports stadiums, synthetic tracks or indoor halls, most forward areas of Jammu region lack even a playground. The fact that majority of government primary schools and even secondary schools in the border areas are feeding centers for the rural/ border area sports ; a look-see of the sports facilities in such schools reinforces the belief that the nurseries of sports are in a dismal state. My endeavour in this write up will be two fold-firstly to identify the systemic problems that are eating away into the vitals of our much hyped ‘Border area sports’ and secondly to give a run-down of the mechanics by which these problems could be taken on in the Jammu region so as to help understand the issue in a holistic manner.
As mentioned above, the first casualty in fostering a well-rounded ‘Border area sports’ environment is a sound infra that forms the bedrock in such frontier areas. Even if some sports facility is constructed, that centers around an urban center the aim gets defeated of constructing the same. Imagine a youngster whether a boy or a girl interested in sports travelling 15 to 20 kms daily for practice which is neither safe nor affordable. Two recent examples in the Jammu region, Nowshera & Udhampur to be precise are worth recalling. Recently the Dy CM inaugurated ‘Border area sports festival’ in Nowshera town as also simultaneously laid foundation stone for construction of a volley ball court, practice pitch and other allied works. Are all sports facilities under the ambit of border area sports ought to be concentrated in towns ? What about border villages like Bohani , Chak Jarlan, Chak Sarkar etc of Nowshera ? Similarly the recent ‘Devika champions league’ conducted and attended by minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs at Udhampur town and terming it as a border area sports extravaganza justified? Calling such sports arrangements as ‘border area sports’ stretches the definition as incredulous. Connected with the above problem is that of abject absence of a viable ecosystem for conductance of these border area sports. Tournaments in border areas are announced with much fanfare -usually around some national day or election seasons -but vanish just as quickly. There is little follow up, no scouting mechanism for talent and no long term ‘athlete development plan’. Ironically, funds earmarked under the much touted BADP (Border area development plan) of both the central Govt as well as the UT administration materialize as facilities located far from the border itself. As has been mentioned by me in the above paragraph.
Another persistent flaw plaguing the noble cause of border area sports is its ‘event -driven’ approach as has been mentioned by me in the preceding paragraphs. Sports tournaments in border areas are organized sporadically -often around national days, visits of dignitaries or birth anniversaries of political big wigs. These events have plenty of potential to generate publicity, photo opportunities, press releases, and momentary enthusiasm in the border areas. But leaving aside the above , can readers of this article suggest what more do such shows generate? True sports culture is built through robust ecosystems, and not one off events. It requires regular coaching, nutrition support, exposure matches, and psychological mentoring. Big words indeed for an erstwhile state of J&K. Leave alone these high sounding words, the UT administration has not been able to even regularize the ‘Rehbar-e- Khel’ teachers or contractual physical education instructors in its schools.
The fact these have been appointed as a stop gap teachers to impart physical education and sports to students in schools and are not regularized shows the seriousness of the UT government to implement its much touted border area sports policy. Much irony is in store for Jammu region which has consistently produced outstanding sportspersons hailing from these border areas despite mounting odds. Even more tragic is the fact that these outstanding sports talents have not been much mentored by the UT administration, but by the security forces that live and die with the frontier people of J&K facing the common enemy. ‘Sheetal Devi’ the Indian compound Para-archer talent from Doda who won a bronze medal at the 2024 ‘Paris Paralympics’ becoming the youngest Indian paralympian so far was spotted by one of the RR units of Indian army and mentored accordingly. For girls in border areas, the challenges multiply even more when it comes to harbouring sports ideas. Conservative social norms, safety concerns, lack of female coaches, and absence of separate facilities severely hamstrung these sporting talents. Where girls do show interest in sporting activities, they are often discouraged after a certain age due to lack of opportunities beyond local events. The above stymies the only powerful tool in the hands of the women empowerment in conflict-affected areas.
A convenient excuse which the authorities in J&K peddle to all and sundry is citing security concerns to justify slow development and consequent induction of border area sports. While it may hold true in many areas of the UT, but using them as a blanket alibi portrays deep seated flaw in our executing such a noble idea for the border youth of J&K. In fact, sports can be a strategic asset in sensitive regions of J&K. Structured sports engagement keeps the youth of the region occupied, strengthens community cohesion, and counters alienation. History and global experience shows that investing in youth and sports enhances stability, and not undermines it. One of the biggest stumbling blocks in proliferation of border area sports in Jammu region is the opacity regarding interface between the DYSS ( Directorate of youth services and sports) and the local administration at the village level with regard to maintenance and day to day activities regarding border area sports and its connected infra. Are any reps of DYSS regularly visiting or interacting with local panchayats of border villages? Are any funds and powers delineated to local panchayats to oversee any sports facilities created in the name of border area sports? Questions are many, answers are few. Having said that, what is the way forward for a deliberate policy of ‘Border area sports’ in Jammu region to take off? I, in my considered opinion put forward few fundamental points to make a shift from mere tokenism to transformation as far as border area sports are concerned in Jammu region—
* Village centric infra-Small, durable playfields, wrestling akharas, and indoor halls in nactual border villages.
* Permanent local coaching staff-Training and employing local youth as certified coaches to ensure continuity and trust.
* School linked sports ecosystems-Daily structured sports programmes integrated with education.
* Clear talent pathways-Scholarships, sports hostels, and assured progression from village to state level.
* Special focus on girl sports-Female coaches, safe facilities and sustained encouragement.
* Transparent audits-Public tracking of funds and outcomes to ensure accountability.
Unless policy translates into actual playgrounds in border villages , instead of towns and cities like Udhampur , Nowshera etc which are by no stretch of imagination border villages, ‘Border area sports will remain a misnomer in Jammu region. Now is the time to correct this gross anomaly.
(The writer is a retired army officer)
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