The Volunteer Brigade

Almost 300 student volunteers held ground at the IPL matches in Pune. Talk looks at the backstage story.

At about 9am on Saturday morning,the Subroto Roy Sahara Stadium at Gahunje village was getting dressed for the last Indian Premier League (IPL) match in the city. Twenty-one-year-old Radhika Fulambrikar,stand assistant,has been taking care of logistical details during every match. There is nothing glamourous in what she does – checking house-keeping facilities,ensuring that cold-drinks are stocked,and managing seating. Yet,she is excited about her job. “The energy here is eclectic. (energy as eclectic is a problematic concept,can you clearly write what she meant? Does she mean she has all kinds of experiences or meets all kinds of people) When the match begins,there is a lot happening around. May be that’s what attracts me to these events too,” she says. Fulambrikar is a student of event management at National Institute of Event Management,Pune. Just like her,more than 300 students work as foot-soldiers during the IPL matches,ensuring that all loose ends are tied-up within time. It’s easy to miss them in a crowd of over 40,000 fans. They do not wear specific volunteer tees or caps. But for them,this experience counts a lot. Fulambrikar’s typical volunteering day starts early. “I am here by nine. On the day of the match,I am supposed to overlook house-keeping requirements of the E -Stand. We are a group of five. Most of our work is just preparing reports and making sure that the place is well-supplied. During the match we have to ensure there are no crowds near eateries and movement is free,for which we coordinate with the security personnel,” she explains. Match days spell a day full of enervating work “Post-match,we are to keep a record of damages. We often see fans creating a nuisance,which we report after the match.” Several agencies are at work at the venue. Each one of them falls back on this ready,young,workforce. “It is mutual. We need smart,intelligent people to co-ordinate and they need this experience. So getting volunteers is always a good option,” says Pritha Chakravarthy,in-charge of the volunteers at White Copper,an event management agency appointed by the MCA. White Copper takes care of house-keeping and crowd management at the venue. They selected 70 students from colleges to volunteer. “We conducted interviews,shortlisted students,deputed them in different areas – so right from stand management,media assessment and player assistance,they are now working in different batches,” adds Chakravarthy. There are other benefits that the volunteers get. “There is a glamourous element here,” says 21-year old Tahir Poonawala,who plans to take up event management in the future. “I manage player entry and it’s quite interesting to see an event of such magnitude unfold before one’s eyes.” Poonawala’s work involves clearing the stadium prior to the lockdown around 3 pm. “I work near the South Stand where VIP movement is quite frequent. There is always someone who is trying to sneak in or sneak out. I was trained about these security details and my work is to follow this around my area.” Interesting bits of gossip and news,in no small measure,also keep these volunteers hooked to their jobs. “At the South Stand I get to see the players,their girlfriends and wives. There is always some interesting news about them that catches our attention,apart from of course the experience of managing an IPL match,” adds Tahir.