The sports camps conducted by the University of Mysore (UoM) provides scores of budding athletes and sportspersons across the city the ideal launchpad. The affordability of these camps has been one its biggest attractions, allowing those from a wide range of the socio-economic spectrum to encourage their wards to pursue their love for sport. However, in accordance with the directions of the central government, and the audit department, UoM levied an 18% goods and services tax (GST) on the fee, which is likely to leave a large hole in the pockets of middle-class parents, and many budding athletes. The 21-day swimming camp conducted by the department of physical education of the varsity cost Rs 3,200 until last year. However, the varsity hiked the fee by Rs 100 in 2019. Coupled with the 18% GST levied on the hiked fee, the total sum that participants are asked to pay has risen to Rs 3,835 – a Rs 635 increase that has triggered outrage among many young athletes, and parents of school and college students.
The fear among parents is that, if the fee for UoM’s many summer camps keeps rising, they might be forced to refrain from sending their wards. Informed about the predicament that the rather steep hike in the fee had plunged parents and young athletes in, UoM vicechancellor Prof G Hemantha Kumar said, “We were instructed by the audit department to collect 18% GST on all services. We had no option but to levy the tax on the fee we charge for sports camps. The GST is collected even for use of auditorium, and other facilities such as our grounds. The officials in the audit department said that, failure to charge GST on our services would result in the sum being collectively deducted from our salaries. But, I write to the Centre to relax these norms on some of our services, including the coaching camp.” Former swimming coach of UoM MP Nabiraj, who has played a vital role in nurturing the careers of several state and national level swimmers, lent his voice to the growing chorus for exempting coaching camps from the GST ambit. “It will fuel growth of sports in India. Otherwise, such a steep rise in the fee will turn prohibitory for many parents, who will start weighing the pros and cons of sending their wards to these camps,” said Nabiraj.