Railway ordeal for national games team

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 26

It is a nightmarish experience for the J&K contingent every year while participating in the National School Games (NSG) with most of the teams (both boys and girls) having to travel to different parts of the country in a general compartment due to non-confirmation of railway tickets by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) on time.

Sources claimed that the state contingent for the national games is selected at least two-three weeks before the participation in the games and the list of teams is submitted to the DYSS.

They added that when only one or two days were left for the participation of teams, the DYSS approach the railway authorities to get the tickets confirmed, but it was too late to get all tickets confirmed. As a result, the teams had to travel in a general compartment with unconfirmed tickets.

“There is every risk of mishap during the journey when the teams are travelling with unconfirmed tickets,” a source said.

Shiekh Fayaz Ahmed, Director, Youth Services and Sports, said, “Every possible effort is being made by the department for welfare of our sportspersons.”