Why so much hulla gulla by AICF?

A huge controversy started when a question appeared on "Yahoo Answers" in the third week of February 2008 when someone by the name of Kapil Deo asked:

"Is Indian Chess Federation downgrading coaches by offering meagre coaching fee of Rs. 1000/- for Grand Master"

In the note to above question there was a reference to the circular issued on Jan 11 2008 by All India Chess Federation (AICF) The wording of the circular is as follows;

"Appeal to Our Senior Players / IMS' / WIM's / GM's / WGM's / FM's and coaches

AICF proposes to short list the names of coaches who are interested to coach our players and prepare them for National and International tournaments. Those interested are requested to send a mail to AICF with their Bio-data and achievements in coaching if any. The AICF shall pay Rs.10,000/- for GM's and RS.7,000/- or Rs 5000/- for others for a ten day coaching programme. For outstation coaches AICF will reimburse, on production of tickets, third A/c train fare and shall take care of the local hospitality. Those interested may kindly send your mail immediately."

I had read the circular when it was appeared on AICF website and had also expressed my views on ill effects of this circular for chess in India to the chess fraternity in Goa.

This is what I said:
"Mr. Srinivasn President of AICF and Mr. Srinivasan Treaserer of BCCI are the same person I am told... As BCCI Treasurer and Chairman of India Cements, Chennai, Srinivasan has picked up Dhoni for 6 crores .... and as AICF president he is offering Grand Masters Rs.1000/- for a day..... This is how Top brass of Chess in India think of chess players......"

My answer to the above question resulted in such a furious reaction that today I am "Suspended pending inquiry" by the AICF. It only means that I can not play in chess tournament organised on behalf of AICF or Goa State Chess Association (GSCA).

Why has there been such uproar over expressing my personal opinion? Surely there must be something more than meets the eye?

Let me explain. Nowadays chess coaching is becoming a professional activity. I have brought players of the calibre of Shri O. T. Anilkumar (Kerala State Champion), B. Shivanand (Karnataka State Champion) to my Academy to coach some of my student and other bright young chess players from Goa. They charge Rs.2000/- per day in addition I had to give them decent lodging and boarding. Nether one of them are International Masters but both of them have superb understanding of the game.

These charges, one may think is expensive. But the parents of serious chess players are willing to spend this amount because they know that it is an investment for the future. Firstly because Chess gives a boost to the IQ of the child.

Secondly because if the child reaches even to the level of B. Shivanand or Anilkumar they can earn good prize money by playing in open chess tournaments.

Thirdly the player can himself or herself become a coach and earn an income that is comparable to that of a Doctor or an Engineer.
Given this scenario what has AICF done by prescribing fees of Rs.1000 per day for GMs when nowadays the minimum appearance money by a GM for a chess tournament is Rs.30000/- as per Dronacharya Awardee chess coach R. Gokhale. Mr. Gokhale had said this in an interview to Jovito
Lopes for The Navhind Times Feb 18, 2008.
(See http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=021819)

What will happen if one goes to the government authorities for sponsorship for coaches? The Government babu will point out that when AICF prescribes Rs.1000 per day for GM's level coach why should they pay the normal charges of minimum Rs,5000/- . Similar can be the case at corporate houses, NGOs or other bodies.

In turn no IM or GM worth the name will be willing to coach at the ridiculous fees prescribed by AICF.

As per circular issued by AICF on March 27 2008, only 19, that too for 7 to 10 days in a year, have offered their services to the AICF to coach players who are likely to represent India at International
tournaments. When the requirement is many times more and also in reality the availability of coaches who actually train these selective players is also many times more.

But there is a further twist to this story. It is my opinion that the AICF never ever wanted an Indian GM's or IM's or even FM's to coach at the rates they offer. They know very well that nobody will accept their offer.

Why? Because in this scenario they can approach the Govt. of India and other sponsoring agency to requisition foreign coaches.GM's and IM's are easily available from cash strapped former East European and Soviet countries out of which a substantial amount will be siphoned off by the AICF administrators and the actual amount given to the foreign coach will be much less.

The end result of this will be two fold
A. The avenues for Indian players and coaches for making a living out of chess will be diminished.
B. The avenues for making money by employing foreign coaches, who will never be genuinely interested in Indian Chess will increase.

As a result, this measure will slowly result in the murder of Indian Chess.

If this explanation is wrong can anybody explain better why the AICF had to react, in the manner they have reacted, to my simple answer?