It was October 2010 when India hosted the 19th edition of Commonwealth Games in Delhi where more than 4,352 athletes from 71 nations participated in 21 sports and 272 events. The event was a big hit but also had a fair share of controversies and one such was the underpayment of various officials hired on contractual basis for various events during the 11-day sporting extravaganza. And one such was Delhi-based Vikram Nayar who worked as a sports announcer for the fullbore shooting event.
But even 10 years after the conclusion of Games where he was hired for Rs 4500 per day for 11 days, he is still fighting in hope to get his dues cleared, only a part of which he is provided till date.
Speaking to The Pioneer about his decade-old struggle, Nayar said “I was hired as a sports announcer and the amount of Rs 4500 per day was promised to me for my services during the entire duration. However I wasn’t provided with any contract document and that’s why as soon as the games were done, I was sidelined and no payment was made for my services.”
He was offered only one-fifth of the total money that was originally promised and that too after 15 months after widespread media coverage.
“I had received my part payment of Rs 10,500 after a gap of 15 months. They had no intention to make any payment but after the story about nonpayment got published in one of the leading newspapers they had to do so. And since that day onwards, I have been fighting my battle for the recovery of my balance and justice till date, said Nayar, who was selected as a sports announcer after clearing five rounds of auditions.
In this long decade-old battle to get justice, Nayar has spent more than six times the money that he is originally supposed to receive from the Games federation and knocked doors of various Government officials but all resulted in vain. But he is still hopeful that one day the truth shall prevail and he will get his dues sorted.