As electioneering in twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu is reaching crescendo, amateur players, sportsmen and young aspirants who regularly practise in sports stadia and playing fields have been forced by the politicians batting on the front foot to take a back seat.
Due to security concerns and paucity of space, majority of election meetings and other election related activities are being organised in big playing fields and educational institutions, posing hardships to sportsmen.
Everywhere the star campaigners, holding different flags and chanting different slogans, are busy patting their own backs in a bid to shore up the chances of their party candidates in the fray. Very few politicians are talking about connecting the youth with the mainstream via sports.
The reason is that successive State Governments in the State have failed to develop adequate sports infrastructure and giving platform to the talented youth to compete with the talent at the national and international level.
At individual level, many players have made a mark for themselves and are considered role models, but the State lacked sports policy till the time it was drafted by the alliance Government to further strengthen the sports infrastructure.
In 2010, when Kashmir valley witnessed prolonged 'cycle of violence' which resulted in the killing of more than 110 youths, the security forces managed to build bridges with the disgruntled and unemployed youth by roping them in cricket tournaments and other games of their choice.
In the election season it appears the State Government has once again ignored the plight of sportsmen in the State and instead of learning lessons, have added to the injury of these young enthusiasts by encroaching playing fields and sports stadia.
Commenting on the work culture of the Omar Abdullah-led alliance Government, a young cricketer practicing in the nets in MAM stadium in Jammu told The Pioneer, "We have been practicing here for a long time but we have not seen any improvement on the ground zero. The players who come regularly do not have the dressing room facilities despite sanctioning of hefty amounts for building sports infrastructure.
Quoting another example a young athlete said, "`50 lakh was sanctioned by the State Government for Bana Singh stadium in RS Pura, but in the last six years the Government failed to provide basic facilities for sportsmen. The situation is no different at the district and tehsil levels where playing fields and other utilities require immediate attention.
The only sports stadium in Jammu inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of J&K on January 25, 1962 is in shambles and needs overhauling. The campaign managers of different political parties claim," The star campaigners of all the mainstream political parties prefer big grounds near main city centres to attract large crowds."
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP chief and party patron Mehbooba Mufti and Mufti Mohd Sayeed have been shuttling across the State to reach out to the maximum population with their agenda of governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address two big rallies, one each in Jammu and Srinagar inside sports stadiums.
The players waiting for the election season to be over said, "Soon after the Assembly polls are over the new Government in the State should focus its attention on utilising `200 crore announced in the general Budget 2014-15 for upgrading of indoor and outdoor sports stadiums to international standards in Jammu and Srinagar".