Tata Steel is known for promoting the ethnic identity and tribal heritage of Jharkhand. The endeavour to promote traditional sports among tribal youth includes organising various tournaments at the grassroot level for the last few years. Another step in this direction was Sekkor tournament at Nandup School Ground near Jamshedpur. Around 40 teams participated during the competition. Kolhankula Diribasa and Gitilader emerged victorious in the senior and junior categories respectively. Barugutu stood runners-up in both senior and junior categories.
Chief Guest for the occasion Menka Sardar, MlA, Potka, lauded all the players for making the tourney a success. She also felicitated the winning teams and the runners-up. “Such sporting events go a long way in infusing a fresh lease of life in tribal games that are heading towards extinction,” she said.
It was the first time Tata Steel’s Tribal Cultural Society took the Annual Sekkor tourney out of the confines of West Singhbhum. The tournament’s league matches, this time, were not only held in West Singhbhum but also in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts of Jharkhand.
Sekkor is a game played by the Ho tribe. According to “Ho” mythology, two early men first played this ancient game against devils, and eventually the early men won. Traditionally, this game is played during summer to prevent drought and to bring on the rains. It is one of several traditional tribal games promoted by TCS to encourage youth to participate in the tourney.
“We focus on three important issues: education, improvement of livelihood opportunities and the preservation of the ethnic identity of the tribal community. This game of the “Ho” tribe is, with the passage of time, losing its significance amongst tribal people and is therefore becoming less known. We have taken steps to stop this ethnic game from waning,” said an official of Tata Steel.