Support staff in Paris yet to receive allowance due to IOA infighting
Vinayak Padmadeo
New Delhi, July 30
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) cannot get its act together. When the country is celebrating two bronze medals in shooting, the IOA officials cannot seem to think beyond their egos.
‘Unilateral decisions’
I must emphasise that no committee, office bearer, including the treasurer possess the authority to unilaterally adjust the rates of TA/DA as approved by the General Council of the IOA. — PT Usha
The members of the medical staff accompanying the Indian delegation as well as the supporting staff, including chief physiotherapist Dr Chris Pedra and sleep therapist Dr Monika Sharma, have not been paid the meal charges and the out of pocket allowance yet.
Those who stay outside have to pay 38 euros to eat inside the Olympics Village. Eating outside and hiring taxis is also blowing a hole in their pockets.
The heart of the matter is that early this month the IOA’s EC members reduced the dearness allowances of the medical and support cast. The pre-agreed allowance was $175 for those who get accommodation by the host country and $300 for those who stay outside. It was the same meeting in which the EC members had decided to not take any money from the IOA for their Olympics stay.
IOA president PT Usha had signed on the cheque that was to be distributed among the medical team and others. IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav did not sign it so the money could not be transferred. Instead, he signed a new cheque with a reduced amount to be given to the contingent. This one was not signed by Usha. The IOA treasurer has written a letter to chef de mission Gagan Narang to use the two forex cards, one with him and one with IOA staff member Pushkar Negi, worth 12,000 euros, to pay those who are yet to be paid. As per his letter, the 11 members who are yet to be paid are to be given $100 for meals and $50 as out of pocket allowance.
Usha has responded with a letter of her own, questioning Yadav and the EC for unilaterally taking a call on the allowances.
“hellip;Upon careful review of your letter, I must emphasise that no committee, office bearer, including the treasurer possess the authority to unilaterally adjust the rates of TA/DA as approved by the General Council of the IOA,” Usha said in her letter.
“In line with these regulations, I did not sign the cheques prepared by your office because the amounts indicated were not consistent with the approved DA rates currently in effect. It is imperative that we uphold the financial integrity and governance protocols as mandated by our association’s charter,” she added.