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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket...

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket in Kerala. During her tenure, which ended recently, five players from the state went on to represent India, while three now feature in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Niketha’s journey began in 1995 on modest grounds and rough pitches in the blazing sun of her native Thrissur. At the time, girls aspiring to play cricket often drew curious stares or disapproving glances. This was despite Kerala producing some of India’s finest female athletes, including P.T. Usha, Shiny Wilson, Anju Bobby George, K.M. Beenamol and Tintu Luka. “Those were the days when women’s cricket did not attract packed stadiums, prime-time television coverage, lucrative contracts or celebrity status. Thankfully, the BCCI has taken progressive steps, including equal pay for the senior women’s team and launching the WPL. These have brought greater visibility, professional avenues and financial security for women cricketers,” Niketha said during a chat with  The Perfect Voice  in Pune. With better infrastructure, stronger domestic competitions and greater junior-level exposure, she believes the future of women’s cricket in India is bright and encourages more girls to pursue the sport seriously. Humble Beginnings Niketha began playing informal matches in neighbourhood kalisthalams (playgrounds) and school competitions before realising cricket was her true calling. Coaches who noticed her composure encouraged her to pursue the game seriously. More than flamboyance, she brought reliability and quiet determination to the turf — qualities every captain values when a match hangs in the balance. These traits helped her rise through the ranks and become a key figure in Kerala’s women’s cricket structure. “She was like a gentle messiah for the players. During demanding moments, they could rely on her – whether to stabilise an innings or lift team spirit,” recalled a former colleague. Guiding Youngsters Her involvement came when women’s cricket in many states struggled even for basic facilities. Matches were rarely covered by the media, and limited travel or training arrangements often tested players’ patience. “As a mother of two daughters—Namradha, 18, and Nivedya, 14—I could understand the emotions of the young girls in the teams. Guiding players through difficult phases and helping them overcome failures gave me the greatest satisfaction,” she said. Niketha — an English Literature graduate with a master’s in Tourism Management — believes success in sport demands not only skill but also sacrifice. Strong parental support and encouragement from her husband, Vinoth Kumar, an engineer, helped her overcome many challenges. Never one to seek the spotlight, she let her performances speak for themselves, earning respect on the national circuit. Quiet Legacy Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. Young girls are more ambitious, parents more supportive, and cricket is seen as a viable career with opportunities in coaching, umpiring, team management, sports analysis and allied fields. Players like Niketha have quietly strengthened the sport. Their journeys show that some victories are not won under stadium floodlights, but by determined women who simply refused to stop playing.

Suicide threats, hostage tragedy highlight crisis


Mumbai: The tragic death of Rohit Arya, who was killed by police during a tense hostage standoff in Powai on Thursday, has forcefully thrown a light on a sprawling financial crisis that has pushed thousands of government contractors in Maharashtra to the brink of ruin and desperation. Arya’s final, extreme act, driven by what he claimed were years of unpaid government dues and denied credit for a state project, tragically mirrors the widespread economic despair gripping the state’s construction and development sector.


The situation unfolded at an acting studio in Powai where Arya, 50, held 17 children and two adults captive for several hours. Though police successfully rescued all hostages, Arya was shot and later succumbed to his injuries after allegedly threatening officers. Before the standoff, Arya released a chilling video stating that he chose this shocking path—which he framed as demanding “moral and ethical answers”—instead of committing suicide, a grim indication of the deep psychological toll his financial battle had taken.


Arya’s grievances centered on the state’s School Education Department, claiming he was owed approximately Rs 2 crore for work executed under his “Swachhta Monitor” initiative, a component of the government’s “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala” campaign.


While department officials dispute the exact amount, citing procedural issues and unclear documentation, Arya’s case resonates loudly across Maharashtra, where a far larger, unresolved financial crisis looms.


Unpaid dues

Across the state, infrastructure and development contractors are collectively reeling from an estimated Rs 89,000 crore in unpaid dues from the state government for completed projects. Major associations, including the Maharashtra State Contractor Mahasangh, claim that payments have been pending since as far back as July 2023, leaving over half a million contractors financially crippled.


The protracted payment delays have created an economic chokehold. Contractors are unable to clear debts to raw material suppliers, pay salaries to their employees, or service their bank loans, forcing many into insolvency.


Representatives have repeatedly warned that the extreme financial stress has fuelled a spate of suicides across the community—the ultimate, tragic outcome of bureaucratic indifference and frozen funds.


“We are the second biggest sector in Maharashtra after agriculture,” Milind Bhosale, president of the Maharashtra State Contractor Mahasangh, has stated. “The government continues to prioritise populist spending while neglecting infrastructure debt. The economic impact is immense, but the human cost—the mental stress, the desperation—is immeasurable.”


Delayed clearance

While government departments have occasionally released small instalments, they often cite delays due to administrative clearance processes, changes in political leadership, or a tight financial environment.


Contractors, however, point to the paradox of new large-scale work orders being issued while old bills remain uncleared, questioning the state’s financial planning.


The Powai tragedy has forced a rare, public reckoning. It highlights the volatile social consequences when official debt becomes unbearable for ordinary professionals.


Until the government addresses the systemic failure to clear the staggering arrears – estimated at nearly Rs one lakh crore – the risk remains high that more individuals will be pushed into desperate, irreversible acts.

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