BENGALURU: The
Karnataka Badminton Association
(
KBA
) has planned financial assistance for indigent coaches in the districts.
In an email to the district associations, KBA secretary
P Rajesh
said the KBA would put together a one-time package for coaches in dire need of help amid the coronavirus
pandemic
.
"We are passing through a critical situation owing to the pandemic. We request you to let us know if deserving and recognised badminton coaches in your district are facing financial difficulties," Rajesh wrote in the email.
As in other sport, training and practice in badminton, particularly at the grassroots level, have come to a halt since March when the lockdown was imposed, depriving many coaches of jobs and livelihood.
"We have told the districts that they need to inform us about only full-time coaches who are registered with the association and are solely dependent on the sport for his or her livelihood. KBA will try to support them financially," Rajesh told TOI.
KBA will also use its resources to conduct a thorough background check before identifying those for its package. "We keep tabs on our coaches. We will talk to the local players and others involved in the game to cross-check facts about the beneficiaries," Rajesh said.
Rajesh admitted the association was not in a sound financial position but had decided to go ahead with the plan only because coaches and support staff have been badly hit by the pandemic.
"We would have loved to give the coaches a monthly allowance but cannot because of obvious reasons. We will look at a better package once our financial position improves," he said.
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