Shillong, Oct 22: Ri-iohlang Dhar has achieved what no one in Meghalaya and only one other woman in India has been able to accomplish – officiating at a FIFA World Cup, namely the ongoing U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, as an assistant referee.
It is something that has sparked pride in the citizens of the state, and deservedly so, but, perplexingly, her employer, the Meghalaya government, has not made it easy for her.
A serving constable in the Meghalaya Police, her superiors are sympathetic and supportive but their hands are tied when it comes to granting her special leave to carry out her FIFA duties as that is up to the paper pushers in the Secretariat.
As an unofficial ambassador of Meghalaya it would seem unfair to expect her to use up her own personal leave for such an assignment but that is exactly what has happened.
Despite putting in an application for special leave, her trip to the World Cup had been deducted from her personal leave, a high-ranking police officer explained yesterday.
“The police have written multiple times to the government but they have not approved,” the officer said, adding that the police have tried to do what they can, such as covering plane ticket expenses for Dhar’s trip halfway across the world.
If the assignment were within the country it would be easier for the police to handle the leave application on their own but, as it involves travel to a foreign country, the Meghalaya government’s approval has to be obtained.
The officer said that had Dhar been an athlete, the government would have allowed her special leave but being a referee doesn’t meet its requirement, which the officer described as “very strange”.
That still hasn’t stopped the government from capitalising on her success, with a slickly produced social media video published by the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs prior to her leaving for the Caribbean. Ministers were also on hand to present a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to Dhar at a Durand Cup match in Shillong back in August.
The U-17 Women’s World Cup began on 16th October and will conclude on 3rd November. Dhar’s first match as an assistant referee was on the opening day between Spain and the USA.
One possible reason for the impasse in Dhar’s leave status could be due to the serious medical condition experienced by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also holds the Home (Police) portfolio. Now that he is back at work, it is hoped that the matter will be resolved.
Without special consideration, Meghalaya’s only FIFA-level assistant referee might have to decline future international assignments as taking them could force her to be absent from work without pay if her leave is exhausted. And that would not just have immediate financial implications but might also hurt her promotion prospects.
(TSR file photo)
