There are not many things Sachin Tendulkar did wrong on the cricket field for 24 years, but ever since the ‘Bharat Ratna’ was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, his poor attendance and the lack of interest in raising issues has been criticised quite a bit. And there’s a good reason for it.
In fact, it took him THREE YEARS to raise his first issue in the upper house of the Parliament, when he enquired about Kolkata metro being replicated for Mumbai and other major cities.
On the other hand, five-time world boxing champion and nominated member Mary Kom took just three months to raise her first issue. She might not be the most eloquent speaker there is, but the decorated Indian boxer stood up and held no punches back.
On Tuesday, she expressed concern in the Rajya Sabha over the training and the diet provided to players participating in international sporting events.
Making her first intervention in the Upper House during Question Hour after she was nominated as a member in April, Kom spoke about proper training for the players as well as quality diet for them.
Stressing that the diet should be given to them on time, she said there were instances when the food had arrived just when the players were about to go for a match.
She also extended her best wishes to the Indian Olympic contingent and hoped they would bring back laurels for the country.
Her intervention was lauded by other MPs who thumped their desks.
Minister of State for Sports Vijay Goel said he will look into specific complaints, if any.
He said the government was spending as much as Rs 30 lakh to Rs one crore on training each of the 119 players representing India in the Rio Olympics and preparations for the next Olympics in Tokyo have also already started.
Special customised training was being provided to each of the players representing the country in the Olympics and government will try to provide the best training to budding players, he said.
Way to go, Mary Kom!