The Board of Control for Cricket
in India or BCCI, the richest cricket body in the world, traces the history of
cricket in India as far back as to 1721, as mentioned on its website.
BCCI, that was registered in
December 1928 as the apex body of six private cricketing associations, showed
an income of Rs. 1266 crore in its balance sheet for the year ended March 31,
2015. The 2014-15 annual report showed a fund flow of Rs. 5437 crore including
the sources of funds and their application.
BCCI that claimed being a
‘charitable organisation’, availed tax exemptions for decades, before the tax
authorities decided that enough was enough, that BCCI was not a ‘charitable
organisation’, but an entity driven by entertainment products and commercial
interests. BCCI is now in courts against around Rs. 2300 crore tax imposed on
it.
BCCI that controls cricket in
India, a game with mass following, with an iron hand, is facing the Supreme
Court’s ire on its persistence to maintain the status quo, on its refusal to
bring reforms that can cure deeply rooted corruption in the apex body of
cricket in India.
How can we expect from that
organisation that it will behave in a socially responsible manner and would
shift the IPL matches out of drought affected regions – with 10 Indian states
officially declaring drought and India facing one of the worst droughts in its
history?
This is the second consecutive
year when a below normal rainfall has forced the millions of Indians to struggle
for a even a single drop of water and has forced thousands of farmers to commit
suicide.
Today, as expected, the Bombay High
Court forced BCCI to take IPL out of Maharashtra. Yes, it was logical when the
court put this restriction on matches after April 30, keeping in mind the fact
the holding matches at a particular venue needs weeks of planning and work.
But even then, there was no
'common sense' wisdom dawned upon the arrogant and insensitive BCCI
administrators as they started cribbing immediately after the verdict that it
was too difficult to shift venues now, that it would harm in the brand IPL, that
it would cause financial damage to the franchisees, that IPL was made a soft
target, and what not.
Well, you cannot expect social
consciousness from an organisation that earns billions but doesn't want to pay
taxes properly and desists from spending on practices like corporate social
responsibility.
A simple document search of BCCI's
latest annual report available on its website (for year 2014-15) with key
search words - corporate, social, responsibility, PR, outreach, conscience,
citizenship and communication - words, when used in the context of Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR), represent social consciousness of on organization
- tells how insensitive and in fact, commerce oriented BCCI is.
Here is the 'cheat' sheet with
the information on how many times a
Communication/CSR related word has been used in the annual report and in what
context: (and not even a single of them qualifies as a proper CSR word
suggesting some socially responsible intent)!
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY –
0
CSR - 0
PUBLIC RELATIONS – 0
PR – 0
OUTREACH – 0
CONSCIENCE – 0
CITIZENSHIP – 0
CORPORATE (1)
- Corporate Trophy (under the head
– expenditure related to cricketing activities)
SOCIAL (1)
- BCCI presence on social media
platforms is being significantly strengthened to connect directly with fans.
RESPONSIBILITY (4)
- It places an enormous
responsibility on coaches at the grassroots level and on administrators.
- As much as it is our responsibility
to contribute to our team’s cause, it is also up to us to remember that we are
entertainers too.
- It becomes our singular
responsibility to offer the right guidance to the younger cricketers..
- While the ICC ACSU is mainly
tasked with providing anticorruption cover to international matches played
between Full Member National Cricket Federations, it is the responsibility of
the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit to protect all domestic games played under the
aegis of the BCCI.
RESPONSIBLE (4)
- He along with Mr. IS Bindra was
responsible for ensuring a fair deal to the BCCI.. (about Jagmohan Dalmiya)
- He was responsible for the return
of South Africa.. (about Jagmohan Dalmiya)
- He was responsible for
introducing medical benevolent scheme for the retired cricketers and umpires.
(about Jagmohan Dalmiya)
- “We feel socially responsible as
a unit wearing this kit and doing our bit for the environment. (R Ashwin on
India’s new jersey launch – and that too, at Melbourne)
PUBLIC (2)
- I have to request you to make
best endeavours to work towards eradicating corruption from the game of cricket
at the state level and assist the BCCI in its efforts to restore the faith of
the cricket loving public in cricket. Shashank Manohar
- It becomes our singular
responsibility to offer the right guidance to the younger cricketers – not just
on cricketing techniques but also on how to conduct oneself in public and how
to be able to differentiate right from wrong.
RELATION(S) (4)
- There is regular flow of
information and news, and relations with the media are structured in a spirit
of partnership and professionalism.
- .. by the Board and defaulted in
relation to the balance franchisee fee of ` 133.86 Crores.
- .. It becomes our singular
responsibility to offer the right guidance to the younger cricketers – not just
on cricketing techniques but also on how to conduct oneself in public and how
to be able to differentiate right from wrong..
- .. obligations relating to UAE
league matches vest with the Board and the Franchisee shall have no rights or
obligations in relation to the staging of the Matches.
COMMUNICATION (7)
- Communication Expenses (under the
head ‘administrative and other expenses’)
- Communication Expenses (under the
head ‘establishment and other expenses’)
- During the year ended 31st March,
2010, the
- Board received a communication
from the Director of Income Tax (Exemption).. (under the section ‘income tax
assessment status’)
- The Board’s appeal with the ITAT
against the said communication had been dismissed as non- maintainable by the
ITAT. (under the section ‘income tax assessment status’)
- .. the Board has also filed a writ petition
before the Honourable High Court of Bombay to stay the communication of the
Director of Income Tax. (under the section ‘income tax assessment status’)
- During the year ended 31 March
2013, based on communication from Income Tax Department, the Board had paid an
amount of `144.32 Crores under protest. (under the section ‘income tax
assessment status’)
- Disputed Matters with Nimbus Communication
Limited (under the section ‘Dispute With Nimbus Communications Limited’)