Special Area Games

The special area games were a sports initiative undertaken by the sports authority of India in 1986. The first project under this was launched in the month of November 1986, under the then sports minister Margaret Alva. Its focus population at that time was the Siddi community inhabiting various parts of the country.

The objective of the special sports project was to nurture these already ‘natural’ and favorable athletic traits of the Siddis and train them into becoming professional athletes, who would later go on to represent the country at the Olympics.

The SAG program, although painted in colors of lingering racism and casteism, did come as a beacon of light to the unnoticed and unacknowledged Siddi community. Not only did the youth of the community benefit from representation through sports, but they were also able to purchase land, fund their future, and find employment in government jobs through the sports program. Towards 1992, the SAG program saw its end nearing. Athletes who were not performing well were sent back to their villages and sacked from their jobs and any future opportunities they could avail. It was like the Siddis were experimented on, and now that it had majorly failed, they were left with no other choice but to go back to living their isolated lives in the jungles.

During 2014, a congregation of community people and former athletes, after repeated requests to the government, finally were able to help resurrect the SAG program. Only, it was not as glamorous as before. The resurrected program saw an intake of about 20 people only, and while the coaches complained about the lack of proper facilities, the once well-intended and glorious program, succumbed to neglect.

Sources-
1. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2021/7/9/siddi-athletes-india
2. https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2018/05/siddi-tribe-community-special-area-games-racism/ 

- Aranya