Sahara India Pariwar announces a cash award of Rs. 1.12 crore for players of Indian Hockey and support staff, for qualifying for London Olympics 2012

Sahara India Pariwar, a major business conglomerate and the prime promoter & patron of sports in India, today announced a cash incentive of Rs. 1.12 crore to be distributed amongst the players and support staff of Indian Hockey Team, for their brilliant performance in FIH Olympic qualifiers, thus cementing a berth in the London Olympics 2012.

For their outstanding display, Shri Sardar Singh and Shri Sandeep Singh have been awarded Rs. 11 lakhs each, while the rest of the team members will get Rs. 5 lakh each for their performance. The support staff will also get an incentive of Rs. 1 lakh each. Recently, Sahara India Pariwar had renewed its support to Indian Hockey by announcing to sponsor the Men & Women National and Junior Hockey Teams for a period of 5 years at a 170% increase over the past contract period.

Saharasri Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker & Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar, said, "We are very proud that India performed so well in this tournament. Hockey is our national game and we are proud of being associated with it. This reward is a small token of appreciation from us to encourage the sportsmen and the support staff to achieve greater success and bring laurels to our beloved nation through our national sport”.

Sahara India Pariwar has been the official sponsor of the Indian Men & Women’s National Teams (Senior and Junior) since 2003. Apart from being sponsor to the Indian Hockey Team, Sahara India Pariwar has played host to the Indian hockey team for their coaching camp for Champion’s Trophy – 2003 where boarding, lodging, practice camps and traveling of the entire team was taken care of.

Sahara India Pariwar had also joined hands with Federation Internationale De Hockey (FIH) in 2004, the World’s apex Body for Hockey, and became the 4th Global Partner of the Federation for a period of 3 years. Sahara India Pariwar also felicitated the entire Indian Hockey Team, including both the players and the officials, on winning the Asia Cup – 2003 for the first time. Each member had been awarded with a cash reward of Rs. 1, 51,000 in a glittering ceremony.

Sahara also rewarded all the players, coach and assistant coach of the Indian Hockey team with Rs. 2 lakhs each as a token of appreciation after India routed Pakistan in their World Cup match in 2010 and has provided for their insurance individually. In the genuine interest of Hockey Players, Sahara India Pariwar paid Rs. 1 crore to Hockey India, for distribution to the players so that they can practice and play peacefully and happily for the Country in 2010 when the players were seriously concerned at their emoluments at a Camp hosted in Pune prior to the World Cup.

Sahara India's official response to BCCI's offer

DISCUSSION POINTS WITH BCCI ON THE 12TH FEB - FROM SAHARA A SPORTING REQUEST

The senior management of Sahara led by Shri Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker & Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar & BCCI represented by Shri N. Srinivasan, President - BCCI, Shri Rajeev Shukla, Shri Sanjay Jagdale, Shri Ajay Shirke & Shri Sundar Raman met in Mumbai on the 12th Feb 2012 to discuss the issues that had been raised by Sahara when it announced its pull out from all forms of Cricket in India on the morning of 4th Feb 2012.

Shri N. Srinivasan, President - BCCI, tried to explain the limitations from the perspective of framework of rules with respect to the issues raised by Sahara. He asked Shri Sundar to explain the issues with a perspective of the rules.
Shri Subrata Roy Sahara requested the BCCI officials not to elaborate on the rules by saying that any disagreement in sports should be taken in perfect sporting spirit and should be resolved accordingly. He further requested the BCCI President & his team that there is no point in quoting the rule book and debating it word by word. After all, they were BCCI's own rules and not some constitutional rules of the Govt of India.

Shri Roy also put forward the point that Sahara has already announced and committed itself to Rs. 1000 crore worth Sports & Social Development Programs and it is not possible for Sahara to go back on its commitment.

For Cricket, Sahara was open to discussions so that a positive and harmonious balance could be created between the committed Sports & Social Development programs and Cricket. The following issues were the subject of discussion:

* The issue of players' was discussed so as to ensure a level playing field. To ensure that, the need for an open Auction to be held in 2013 was also put forward. Till then, since there is no same level Indian player left who can match up to the level of Shri Yuvraj Singh, we should be allowed one extra overseas player in the playing XI. We should realize that even this is also not enough to compensate for the loss of somebody of Shri Yuvraj's caliber.

* Shri Subrata Roy also put across very firmly that if all teams are balanced, the tournament and all the matches will be very competitive and that viewers will enjoy the competition else the tournament will lose its charm. This is the precise reason why Sahara had insisted on an open auction last year after the induction of 2 new teams.

* Shri Roy said that considering the reduced number of matches that actually took place against the earlier representation of BCCI before tendering for the new Franchise, we have ended up bidding 27% extra if we go by the revenues that we would have accrued from media rights, gate receipts, sponsorship revenue etc. There has to be a reduction in the Franchise Fee as per the above.

*The possibility of Sahara seeking strategic partners for its Franchise, though this is already factored in the contract for every team. But as Sahara has already announced nationwide Social Development programs worth Rs. 1000 crore, it may go for a strategic partner

*The fact that none of the earlier 8 teams who entered IPL in 2008, deposit any Bank Guarantee against Franchise Fee. Out of the remaining 9 teams in the League, only Sahara is required to deposit the Bank Guarantee against the Franchise Fee. Considering that Sahara has never defaulted in last 12 years in any payment that was due to BCCI, this is out and out discriminatory in nature

* Announcement of Sahara towards the Sports & Social Development programs

* Accordingly, if issues related to IPL are solved, then we could also discuss the sponsorship of the Indian cricket Team though it was also put forward that we have to balance our announced Sports & Social Development programs by partly diverting finances committed from Cricket into Social Activities.

On the subject of the sponsorship of Indian Cricket Team, the right to assign the sponsorship to other Corporates was vested with Sahara.
In the last 3-4 days, Shri Subrata Roy himself, and his team discussed the option of assigning full or partial sponsorship with some Corporates. This was done because Sahara has committed to continue to support the Team Sponsorship for 2-4 months till a new sponsor is on board, hence there was a need to finalise the same as soon as possible.

As an outcome of the discussions, we were very surprised to note that though they were interested in the opportunity, yet were not willing to pay more than 50-60% of the current value.

N.B. - BCCI had committed for a joint statement on the 13th/14th Feb but they have completely flouted it by breaking the news on the 12th Feb itself. Hence, it became imperative for us to clarify the requests that we had made to BCCI.

Sahara solemnizes 101 marriages of underprivileged in its annual ‘Samuhik Vivah Samaroh’

Marriages of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh & Christian couples were solemnized in a grand ceremony Organized since 2004 till date, 909 couples have been blessed

Lucknow, 02nd February, 2012: Sahara India Pariwar, a major business conglomerate, today solemnized 101 marriages of girls coming from the weaker section of the society, in its annual event ‘Samuhik Vivah Samaroh’. The Samaroh is organized every year by Sahara with huge fanfare at Sahara Shaher, Lucknow. The event witnesses 101 weddings of underprivileged girls from different religions, performed at one common venue. This year, 90 Hindus, 7 Muslims, 2 Sikhs and 2 Christian couple tied the knot on this auspicious occasion. The Samuhik Vivah Samaroh is being organized since 2004 and this is its ninth consecutive year. Till date, 909 couples have been blessed.

For the 101 marriages every year, Sahara invites applications from bride and groom families who can not bear the cost of marriage by themselves. After verification process, the applicants are included for the Samaroh. All the marriage arrangements like fooding, clothing, lodging of the relatives, Welcoming of the Baraat, Kanyadaan, 101 Mandaps, etc. were made by Sahara India Pariwar. In addition to this, Sahara also helps all the newly wedded couples in initiating a new life. For this, Sahara gifts Rs. 1 lakh worth of basic household items to each couple. The gifts consist of Color Television, Refrigerator, Almirah, a double-bed, dressing table, jewelry, Suits to the groom, Sarees to the bride and wrist watch for both. Sahara even takes care of the delivery of these gifts at the couple’s house.
On this occasion, Reverend Smt. Chhabi Roy - Mother of Mr. Subrata Roy Sahara, Shri Raj Babbar, Member of Parliament & Cinestar, Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Mayor of Lucknow, Shri O.P. Srivastava, Dy. Managing Worker, Sahara India Pariwar, Smt. Kumkum Roy Choudhury, Dy. Director Worker, Sahara India Pariwar, Shri Ashok Roy Choudhury, Executive Director Worker, Sahara India Pariwar blessed the newly wedded couples.
The whole ambience of Sahara Shaher was made enchantingly beautiful with decoration of flowers and Rangoli, amidst chants of marriage hymns with Shehnai being played in the background. Relatives danced with joy & revelry and had a feast of different dishes. The marriages of various communities were solemnised by the renowned priests of their respective communities.
The Samaroh was conducted amidst a gathering of distinguished invitees and Kartavyayogi workers of Sahara India Pariwar, who extended their heartiest greetings to the newly wedded couples. This was followed by lunch organized for the newly wedded couples, their families and guests.
The newly wedded couples were bestowed with a photograph that featured all the 101 couples. The camera used for capturing this golden moment is the 1914 made special American Panoramic Kodak Still Camera which can rotate upto 360 degrees and produces a very sharp image. The same camera is also used to take pictures of newly elected Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Members.
Notes to the Editor
Sahara India Pariwar is a major business conglomerate in India with operations in multiple sectors, including financial services, life insurance, mutual funds, housing finance, print and television news media, entertainment channels, cinema production, consumer merchandise retail, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, sports, and information technology.
Sahara India Pariwar has always been prompt in its services towards the nation and its nationals who have sacrificed their lives at the altar of nationalism. Sahara India Pariwar’s commitment to Social Welfare is evident from the fact that 25% of its profits every year are dedicated towards social development activities. In fact, it’s the firm conviction of the Chief Guardian of Sahara India Pariwar, Hon’ble Saharasri, Subrata Roy Sahara that every organization, along with its own development and progress should also contribute towards the cause of the society and the nation at large.
Sahara also works on various Health programmes, including Mobile Healthcare Units, under which 49 medical vans across the country are running 30 days a month, throughout the year, taking free primary healthcare services to the remotest rural areas where medical services do not exist. Besides this, Sahara also works on various programs on Nutrition, Literacy, Vocational Training, Civic Development, Behavioral Change, Communication and Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged People.
Under its Disaster Management initiatives, Sahara has always stood up in the need of the hour of the country, be it super cyclone of Orissa, earthquake in Gujarat, drought in Rajasthan or floods in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Sahara has adopted Bhimasar-Chakasar village in Taluka Anjar, District Kutch for relocation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the village along with basic amenities, panchayat ghar, bus stop, post office, play ground, primary and secondary school and street lights. When the devastating earthquake hit Latur district of Maharashtra, Sahara India Pariwar came forward to rehabilitate the earthquake stricken citizens of the region and also developed a cluster of earthquake houses in Killari Village in Latur, The houses were handed over to the villagers by Reverend Mother Teresa.
Sahara is also providing monthly financial assistance is also provided to the families of the Martyrs of the Mumbai Nov '08 terror attack, Dantewada Massacre and to the families of Kargil War Martyrs. Today, it provides, monthly financial assistance to 320 families of martyrs.

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Ghulam Zeeshan
Corporate Communications, Sahara India Pariwar
Ph.: 0522 2304230
Mobile: 9335235621
Website: www.saharabharatparva101vivah.in