First 300, now Games panel seeks 4,000 defence staff

In a new twist in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games in October, the organising committee has now asked the Defence Ministry for nearly 4,000 personnel to assist in conducting the games. With the projected cost of assistance by the Defence Ministry nearing to Rs 100 crore, the Cabinet Secretary will hold a crucial meeting on Wednesday that is expected to decide, amongst other things, on who will foot the bill.

The new request, up from the requirement of 300 officers that was initially brought out, comes as the organising committee now wants the Defence Ministry to deploy nearly 2,500 personnel for ‘marshalling duties’ — to escort athletes and cultural performers from various sites to the games village. In addition, more than 1,200 personnel will be required to fulfil the request for 40 military bands that would perform at the opening and closing ceremony of the games.

Sources said the fresh requests for marshalling duties and the military brands came during a high-level meeting between top military officers and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Monday evening. The request has left the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) surprised due the sheer number of personnel requested. In addition, there is a requirement of nearly 300 officers to fulfil vacancies in the organising committee staff that is short of 600 managers.

While the Armed Forces are confident that the request can be met by calling in personnel from around the country, doubts remain on where the funding would come for deputing personnel and resources for the games.

An initial estimate drawn up in South Block puts the cost of assistance at nearly Rs 100 crore. This would include logistics, salaries and the cost of bringing in personnel and resources like the military bands to the Capital from across the country. It would also include the high cost involved in deploying the Sarang and Surya Kiran aerobatic teams that have been requested for the opening and closing ceremony. However, it has been conveyed that other requests, including helicopter sorties for the Queen’s baton rally, would not be possible to meet due to a paucity of resources.

The sources say serious deliberations will be carried out during Wednesday’s meeting headed by the Cabinet Secretary that will include Organising Committee members, the Defence Secretary and senior officers of the Armed Forces. The Defence Ministry is clear that while resources could be lent in what is seen as a national effort, it would not be possible to foot the bill for deploying manpower and resources for the games as the same has not been budgeted for.