Dilemma Over Dearness Allowance: IOA Executive Council Prioritizes Public Perception
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Executive Council, faced with the prospect of receiving a dearness allowance (DA) significantly higher than that allocated to athletes participating in the upcoming Paris Olympics, has opted to forgo the payment.
The initial budget estimates had proposed a daily DA of USD 300 (approximately Rs 25,000) for the Executive Council members, along with an additional USD 1000 (approximately Rs 90,000) per day for accommodation during their five-day visit. However, this proposal drew criticism, particularly in light of the relatively meager USD 50 per day allowance allocated to the athletes.
Recognizing the potential for negative public perception, the IOA Executive Council convened a meeting on Sunday to address the issue. According to an anonymous EC member, the majority of members expressed a consensus to decline the proposed allowance.
We discussed this issue. Most of the members agreed that we should not accept this allowance. A wrong message has gone to the public and it needs to be rectified, the member stated.
The Executive Council members emphasized their financial independence, asserting that they did not rely on government funds for such travels.
Actually, all the EC members are financially well-off. They don't need to depend on the government funds for such travels. Each of us can manage it easily. And this 1000-1500 dollars amount does not make any difference to us, the member explained.
Furthermore, the member clarified that the DA amount had not been increased from USD 150 to USD 300 as reported, maintaining that it had remained consistent with the Tokyo Olympics.
If you get the details checked, the DA amount was USD 300 even in Tokyo, it was nor raised for this edition of the Games. It was wrongly reported that the sum has been doubled for this edition, the member asserted.
The Executive Council, comprising 15 members including two Athletes' Commission representatives, had initially sought approval from all members for the budget estimates. However, treasurer Sahdev Yadav requested an EC meeting for further discussion before granting final approval.
The decision to forgo the dearness allowance reflects the IOA Executive Council's sensitivity to public opinion and their willingness to prioritize the welfare of the athletes.
