Demand to stop diversion of funds for Games

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) and Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) have charged that more than Rs.744 crore has been diverted from the Special Component Plan (Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan) between 2006-07 and 2010-11 for Commonwealth Games-2010 expenses.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, representatives of the two organisations said the Delhi Government had in response to an RTI application dated June 30 confirmed that Rs.744.354 crore had been diverted from SCP funds for the purpose of the Commonwealth Games.

NCDHR senior economist Umesh Babu provided a break-up of these funds diverted through various departments of the Delhi Government, including transport, sports and youth, Delhi Jal Board and urban development. “We need to ask where is the money [for the Games] coming from?” said HLRN associate director Shivani Chaudhry. She added that health and social sector budgets had suffered huge cuts this year. “Money for marginalised population is completely stopped.”

Another issue raised at the conference was lack of “transparency and accountability” of the Commonwealth Games funds. “There is a lack of a single authority monitoring accounts,” said HLRN executive director Miloon Kothari. Ms. Chaudhry pointed out differences in the expenditure figures quoted by different ministries. Mr. Kothari said the Games Organising Committee's claim to recover the money spent on the Games through sponsorships does not hold good since there is no such aid forthcoming. He said it would be “corporate social irresponsibility” to contribute to the Games.

Questioning the social devastation and human rights violations being carried out in the name of the Commonwealth Games, Mr. Kothari called for a “fundamental re-thinking and re-structuring of the Games”. The organisations have demanded, among other things, an order by Delhi Chief Minister to “stop any further diversion of SCP funds towards the Commonwealth Games”, and “an explanation to the nation by the Prime Minister on the exact expenditure of the Commonwealth Games, highlighting the impact on social welfare programme budgets”.