The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Gilgit NRIS: Plan to call them for Pravasi Divas 2017
SOUTH BLOCK is exploring the possibility of inviting the diaspora from Gilgit-baltistan for the next Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, in what would be a first in this direction.
The proposal being discussed among the top brass of the Indian government — between external and home ministries, as well as intelligence and security agencies — is that the diaspora from these areas should be called for the biennial event. The next Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru in January next year.
The plan, according to top South Block sources, is to make the point that these people are part of the Indian diaspora. This ties in with the government’s latest diplomatic gambit that Pakistan-occupied-kashmir and Gilgit-baltistan are part of Jammu and Kashmir.
This narrative has gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of Gilgit-baltistan and POK on two occasions earlier this month — first at the all-party meeting and then during his Independence Day address from Red Fort.
Officials privy to the discussions said there are two views on this approach. There is the hardline view, keeping in line with Modi’s remarks and upping the ante on POK and Gilgit-baltistan. The moderate view is that the AIMED AT boosting India’s performance in future Olympic Games, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that a Task Force would be set up to prepare a comprehensive action plan for “effective participation” of Indian sportspersons in the next three Olympic Games — 2020, 2024 and 2028.
The announcement was made at a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers at which the Prime Minister also reviewed the performance of various ministries vis a vis promises made in last three budgets (two full budgets). Modi also examined the status of the implementation of the Departmental Action Plan for various ministries.
It is learnt that the PMO has asked the Sports Ministry to submit a detailed report on India’s disappointing performance at the Rio Games. The report, a Sports Ministry official said, has to be submitted by the end of September. INDIA RETURNED with a silver and a bronze from the Olympic Games in Rio, both achieved with barelythreedaysleftforthecompetition to end. But not many recall that the contingent could have claimed a medal on just the second day of the competition.
In the 48kg women’s weightlifting category, Mirabai Chanu had stepped on to the dais with a total lift of 192 kg behind her, a national record achieved just a couple of months before at the selection trials in Patiala. But in Rio, Chanu managed just a single clean lift of 82kg in the snatch segment. The silver in Rio went to Indonesia’s Wahyuni Agustiani — she lifted 192 kg.
The result was symptomatic of India’s performance at the 2016 Olympic Games.
■ Although it sent its largest contingent ever this time, around 84 per cent performed below their qualifying marks. Of the 85 individual participants — excluding the 32 in men and women’s hockey — just 13 matched their personal best, justified their world ranking or advanced past the opening round.
■ Only four out of 34 track and field athletes reached the finals, or set national records or logged their season’s best performances.
The results compare poorly with those at the 2012 Olympics in London, where India claimed six medals from 65 individual competitors. Four years ago, a higher proportion of athletes improved on their season’s best, too. In the case of athletics, where results are quantifiable, five of 14 reached the finals, or set national records or logged their season’s best performances.
In May, a report prepared by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) estimated that India would win between 10-12 medals in Rio based in part on qualifying