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Woeful tale of a National Abilympics medal winner from the State

By PRAMESHWAR PURI

JORABAT, Dec 24 - The fact that a staggering number of Indian sportspersons struggle to make ends meet and lead a dignified life is common knowledge. Many of them die in pitiful conditions; their legacy is either ignored or forgotten.

The tale of struggle of Manmohan Das, a gold and silver medal winner at the National Abilympics in 2006 and 2007 to sustain his family, echoes the story of several sportspersons who have faded into oblivion due to poverty.

The 31-year-old orthopaedically challenged medal winner cum entrepreneur of Maloibari in Kamrup (M) district, is struggling hard to provide the basic needs to his family. A first prize in 2006 and a silver medal in 2007 in jewellery making at the National Abilympics were not enough to help his family of five financially. His efforts to land a job have so far proved futile due to his physical disability.

Manmohan was infected by polio at the tender age of three. He lives in a dilapidated house with his wife, two daughters and his ageing father. His only source of income is his small jewellery shop attached to his house in the village. The earnings from the shop, which is in a pathetic state, are not at all adequate for his family of five.

He was selected as part of the national contingent for the International Abilympics 2007 in Japan after he had won a silver medal at the National Abilympics 2007 in New Delhi.

Abilympics is an Olympics-like event for persons with disabilities to showcase their abilities and vocational skills.

Manmohan, while recalling his achievement, said it was the constant guidance and support from Swabalambi that helped him achieve success under adverse conditions. �I was constantly guided and motivated by Swabalambi. I owe my success to them. Without their support I could not have reached so far,� he said.

Swabalambi is a society for rehabilitation and training of persons with multiple disabilities.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, Manmohan said, �Winning the medal at the national-level championship was no easy task. I was confident of winning a gold at the international meet in Japan then, but my name was cancelled in the last moment. The reason could be my financial crunch,� he added.

Failing to recall a name, Manmohan informed that a person identifying himself as a government official, had assured him of providing one lakh rupees soon after his feat at the National Abilympics 2007. But no such money came his way, he added. He recalled that once Swabalambi helped him get a loan of Rs 15,000 from the Rashtriya Gramin Vikash Nidhi, Guwahati, to buy a gold polishing machine, but the State government is yet to offer any support to his family. �Poverty was never a deterrent to my aspirations to earn for my family, though the lack of support or empathy occasionally does demoralise me; even the government has not helped us,� he said.

Commenting on his willingness to compete in such events in future, he said, �If I get a chance to represent my State or country, I won�t disappoint them as I still have that aspiration to register a win with my hard work.�

The list of sportspersons ignored by the Central and state governments, the sports ministries, the respective sports federations and politicians covers the length and breadth of the country and the entire gamut of sports played in India.

The residents of Dimoria along with Manmohan himself, have urged the State government to provide financial support or a government job to him that could help him live life with dignity.

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