Sports facilities in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai present a study in contrast

Though neighbouring districts, sports facilities in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai couldn’t be more different. Despite the fact that officials have been making all-out efforts to heighten awareness on healthy living since fit residents cut the government’s public health care expenditure, top officials in both districts have different views on this.

Vellore district, which is more than a century old, is the cradle for weightlifting as many notable lifters at the national and international level cut their teeth in local gyms. Though the government recently opened an integrated sports complex at Vellore with boarding and lodging facilities, the common complaint is that the sportspersons do not get any encouragement. Whatever headway they make is due to their own effort as official initiative is allegedly lacking.

However, for the common man and children interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it is a different picture altogether. Though the government did provide gyms separately for men and women in the Collector’s office, it has never been opened for use and hence the equipment, including costly treadmills, are gathering dust. “Rats in the premises must be having a field day gnawing at the wires in the treadmill as the facility is not used,” said an irate official.

As the Collectorate is next to the government staff quarters, mornings and evenings see many people, including government staff, jogging and walking around the complex.

Former minister VS Vijay provided funds for the Rs 60 lakh swimming pool which, though completed in 2016, is still kept locked. Officials, when asked, sought to blame the Vellore Corporation and Sports Development Authority of TN (SDAT) for the facility not being used.

Collector SA Raman, when asked sometime ago on why the gyms are not used, said, “Why do we need a gym?” On the swimming pool, he said, “The Corporation, which has to do the needful, is delaying.”

Vellore town has only the Nethaji Stadium but its ownership is unclear. While the gallery sports an SDAT board and sports officials claim that the facility is theirs, there are three boards at the entrance which state that it is the police parade ground.

Sports officials said the government had cleared an integrated sports complex estimated at Rs 17 crore and it was to come up at Oosur on the Odugathur road on the outskirts of the town. But no one knows when the work may start. A proposal for a new stadium at Perumugai on the Vellore-Chennai national highway was also sent to the State government sometime ago, officials added.

In contrast, Tiruvannamalai district, which was bifurcated from the former North Arcot district about 30 years ago, today boasts of an international-level stadium, a synthetic track and a 50-metre-long swimming pool. The facility also has a gym which is open for men and women. While men use it in the mornings and late evenings, women, specially doctors from the adjoining government medical college, use it between 4 and 5 pm.

The district also has an indoor stadium with facilities for basketball, volleyball, handball and kabaddi, in addition to two tennis courts which are in use regularly.

Sports officials said, “We have just completed a State-level meet as we have the necessary facilities. We have also submitted a proposal for an astro-turf hockey stadium as the district boasts of one of the top State teams which consistently wins medals.”

Collector KS Kandasamy, when asked about proposals presented to the State government seeking additional sports facilities, said, “We have requested for a sports complex, including a swimming pool, at Arni for which we have already allocated five acres of land. Similarly, another proposal for a residential sports complex in seven acres of land in the Jawadhu Hills is also pending with the government. The facility would also include archery training as local tribals are good at it and once trained they can match international standards. Once the proposals are accepted, we will draw up the necessary cost estimates.”

However, a sports aficionado said, “Whatever facilities the government provides, it won’t serve any purpose unless top district officials provide the necessary encouragement and impetus. And this, Vellore lacks woefully.”