Children Suffer as Sports Dept & School Blame Each Other

A sports ground in Gurugram is suffering from severe neglect, caught in a bureaucratic dispute between the district sports department and the school. The sports department claims ground maintenance is not their responsibility, while the school principal reportedly declined to take charge without an education department order, leaving children to face the consequences.

Coach Rajesh Saini stated that he personally funds maintenance efforts, supported by senior players and village donations. He also noted that stipends for coaches and players have been pending for approximately six months, impacting training continuity. Students have reported serious injuries due to rusted goalposts, torn nets, and broken concrete slabs covering drainage channels.

Fifteen-year-old Yogender Saini described a severe leg injury sustained by a fellow student three to four months ago when a broken fence collapsed. Sixteen-year-old Priyanshu Rajput added that torn synthetic grass mats and non-functional water pumps further impede safe play. These issues mirror problems at the state-maintained Nehru Stadium, which also faces infrastructure challenges.

The state government doubled its sports infrastructure budget to ₹989 crore for 2024-25, yet facilities like the Nehru Stadium's hockey ground had a water supply motor out of service for nearly a week recently, and its artificial turf remains torn. Efforts are underway to demolish unsafe buildings at the stadium complex, with tenders floated for new changing rooms and washrooms.