Bengaluru’s Basavangudi Aquatics centre has become a cradle for swimming in India, over the past decade. The city’s premier swimming club boasts of national and international level coaching standards, making it the epicentre of India’s fight for an Olympic medal. However, the same kind of access isn’t reflected by Karnataka state run coaching centers.
As per the latest update for Karnataka’s Labour Ministry minimum wage scheme, a swimming coach is paid just Rs 6,677.47 around Rs 1,000 lesser as compared to a government employed cattle-grazer.
Co-founder of Indian swimming e-commerce website Gamatics, Santosh said, “There is no argument that Bengaluru has become the prime location for swimmers in India. All the top swimmers train here, but the statistic is a bit shocking because since coaching is a skilled job as compared to Cattle grazing. This probably in the tier 2 towns and the smaller state run clubs in Bengaluru.”
Karnataka Swimming Federation General Secretary, Sindia told Sportskeeda, “It depends completely on experience actually, if you’re good other private clubs pick you up as coaches. Then you get high salaries of Rs 30 – 40k, even in state run centres it goes upto Rs 14 – Rs 15k. However, yes the minimum is Rs 6.5, but scope of growth is more.”
He added, “Bengaluru is now the top city in India for swimming, because of these private centers and the state’s efforts. Nothing grows that quickly, the statistic seems shocking to you because you’re comparing it to a cattle grazer, However, if you would’ve seen that you would be shocked.”
Other private centers such as Sastha Pools and SwimLife helped the city further tighten their iron grip over India’s swimming landscape. The focus will no shift towards tier two towns for a more sustainable increase in talent base. Sindia added, “We are now looking at various more programmes to integrate smaller towns as well, including workshops in Mysore etc.”
