Participation of CADC in 1st ISPL, 2022: A lesson for all

        

It was about a week before the Football tournament begin, this message reached me that there will be the 1^st Inter Sixth Schedule Councils Premier Football League, 2022 (ISPL, 2022) Season 1 in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) scheduled from 9^th October, 2022 to 23rd October, 2022 and Chakma Autonomous District Council (hereafter CADC) is taking part in it.

First of its kind, the 1^st Inter Sixth Schedule Councils Premier Football League, 2022 is being incubated by the Govt. of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) as the pioneer host of the Series tournament to be organized by the member Councils under Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India in a rotation manner in the years to come.

However, it was two days before we set-out for the tournament, I got a call from Dg Durjya Dhan Chakma, Executive Member i/c Sports & Youth Services Department, CADC asking me whether I would like to be a part of this epoch-making. Truly, I couldn’t express then how I was feeling happy and chilling about the tiding for which I have been waiting for to be a part of the team that will be representing CADC in the first ever such Inter Sixth Schedule Councils Premier Football league being organized. Next day, I rushed to the Office of the District Sports Promotion Officer, CADC as instructed where I learnt about the selection of players of the CADC Football Team. That time it was not a matter of concern. Due to paucity of time, it was despairing to think to form a Selection Committee for the purpose. I have seen many naysayers’ comments or ridicules mongering in various social media platforms particularly on Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. regarding the selection of the Team. We were unprepared for such an event!

        

Though the CADC Football Team has performed worst amongst the participatory teams but, the sojourn was full of outmost care and hospitality, which may be felt by all teams shall be etched in our hearts forever. Indeed, it was a new experience for all of us. There was so much media attention to our team especially in the night when our team played against the BTR Team at Kokrajhar District Sports Complex. Our Team Manager Dg Prityrup Chakma, Assistant District Promotion Officer, CADC stole the show for a moment in the field when he said this – “We have come to win your heart, not the Tournament.” And eventually there was continuous media interview which we have never encountered even in our home state. Impressive Chakma song by Tatu Chakma, a player from CADC Football Team. Frankly speaking, before departure our team has sent a Press Release to several media house in our state out of excitement but, it was not published by any of them which is very sad. Anyway, we are on our own which we must realize before it is too late which is a glaring fact. In total, our team had played three matches against the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Team, the Lai Autonomous District Council and last the Bodoland Territorial Team.

By and large, it is high time that we think with common interest not only for the upliftment of our society but also for improving our lives by thwarting any kind of petty vendetta whether political, social or religious barriers pervading today which is causing our society poverty-ridden, debilitate and regression one which is detrimental for one and all. This need to be eliminated soon as it will impair our society slowly and perpetually until we are completely annihilated as a community or assimilated into other's society.

Altogether, there are 10 (ten) Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India in Northeast. Out of which, only 8 (eight) teams participated in the tournament. They are namely – the Bodoland Territorial Council (now Bodoland Territorial Region), the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council from Assam; the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council from Meghalaya; the Chakma Autonomous District Council, the Lai Autonomous District Council and the Mara Autonomous District Council from Mizoram and the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council from Tripura. Of all, The Bodoland Territorial Region is the most developed and powerful one and the Chakma Autonomous District Council is the weakest and unstable one in all respects. The Bodoland Territorial Region was constituted in 2003 whereas, the Chakma Autonomous District Council was formed on 29^th April 1972. This year, the CADC is celebrating its 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of existence along with her sister Councils MADC and LADC. Apparently, we are lagging behind in all respects in comparison to BTR or other sister Councils under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. But we can learn many things from them in order to push our Council forward and develop at par with the rest of the sister Councils.

Almost, the other 8 (eight) Councils have their own Civil and Revenue District except the Lais and Chakmas, both of them housed in One District i.e., Lawngtlai District in south-western part of Mizoram bordering Siaha District to the north-east, Bangladesh to the west and Myanmar to the south-east. First of all, to become free and emancipation we have to have our own district i.e., administrative unit separate from the Lais or vice-versa and if possible, all the Chakma concentrated areas be included in one such District named after the Chakmas. This will not only relieve burden for the Lais as they had to share all available resources with other community like the Chakma, which is unenthusiastic. Consequently, the Chakmas are becoming vulnerable and struggling for their survival as they have less to enjoy their share where starts our poor performance in such an event representing Chakma like this time at 1^st Inter Sixth Schedule Councils Premier Football League, 2022 in BTR. Until recently, we had no Football ground to promote and develop Football in CADC. Local grounds do not suit due to varied reasons.

          As we entered in Bodoland in the mid-night of 8^th October, 2022, we have passed by many Football grounds with permanent goal-post netted. There we could feel the aura and realize the importance of Football in BTR. As informed by one of the officials who came down all the way from Udalguri to Guwahati to received us that after the insurgency period or post Memorandum of Settlement between the Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF) and Government of India and Assam, almost all the villages have at least one Football ground and every household has an aspirant and thus produced many District-level and State-level Football players from BTR. Whereas, we have none to name as a professional Football player from CADC. Then how could our players outperform any of them. Reportedly, I have learnt during the tournament that there are unbeknownst aspirant players who are now playing under many Sporting Clubs in different parts of the Country, which is a positive sign for us in this field. We need more such aspirants in other Sports too, though it entails continuous hard work, grit and dedication along with huge monetary involvement. Due to lack of communication, this time they were left out but, I believe that next time they all will be invited and given a chance to represent CADC.

Through this article, I ardently appeal to the Authority to promote Sports culture and support Athletes in CADC under different Schemes from Central Government like Khelo India and create platform for our aspirant Athletes and Sportspersons, if possible, with allowance which will bolster them in time.

 

     

RESULTS OF THE 1^ST ISPL, 2022:

WINNER – Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Assam

1^ST RUNNER UP – Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), Mizoram

2^ND RUNNER UP – Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Assam