The 15-year-old Olympian from Madhya Pradesh, Sita Sahu works at a shop to support family.
Sita Sahu: From being a two-time bronze medal winner in the Athens Special Olympics in 2011 to selling gol gappas and papdi chaats, Sita Sahuâs tale echoes the story of several sportspersons who have faded into oblivion due to poverty.
The 15-year old Olympian from the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh has been forced to work at a shop owing to financial troubles. A bronze medal in 200 meter relay race and another in the 1,600 meter race was not enough to aid her family of six. Along with three of her siblings, Sita spends her time at home making the base for the chaats in their one-room house in Dhobia Tanki. In the evening, her brother Dharmendra Sahu carries boxes and utensils on a hand-cart to sell the gol gappas under a street light.
The family on an average earns Rs 150-180 a day or even less. "I am unable to recall the last time I offered a glass of milk or fruits to my children,â said Kiran Sahu, the athleteâs mother, âI donât even remember the last time my family had a complete meal. We have been forced to sell chaats as my husband cannot take on a physically demanding job. This is our only source of income and life has been going on like this for the past many years.â
The state government is yet to offer any support to the family. âPoverty 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, â she added. According to Sitaâs coach Sajid Masood, there were announcements of cash prizes for Sita from the state government âbut nothing came her way despite several remindersâ.
Sitaâs brother Dharmendra had even approached Social Justice Minister Gopal Bhargava about the announcement he has made in front of the contingent after Sita was awarded the medals. âThe Minister had announced that those winning gold medal will be given Rs 1 lakh cash reward, silver medal winners will get Rs 50,000 and while bronze winners were to get Rs 25,000,â claimed Dharmendra, âthe government has failed to fulfill its promise. It will be great, if they could at least give us some space near the lamp post,â he added.
PHOTO: Mail TodayThe 15-year old Olympian from the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh has been forced to work at a shop owing to financial troubles. A bronze medal in 200 meter relay race and another in the 1,600 meter race was not enough to aid her family of six. Along with three of her siblings, Sita spends her time at home making the base for the chaats in their one-room house in Dhobia Tanki. In the evening, her brother Dharmendra Sahu carries boxes and utensils on a hand-cart to sell the gol gappas under a street light.
The family on an average earns Rs 150-180 a day or even less. "I am unable to recall the last time I offered a glass of milk or fruits to my children,â said Kiran Sahu, the athleteâs mother, âI donât even remember the last time my family had a complete meal. We have been forced to sell chaats as my husband cannot take on a physically demanding job. This is our only source of income and life has been going on like this for the past many years.â
The state government is yet to offer any support to the family. âPoverty 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, â she added. According to Sitaâs coach Sajid Masood, there were announcements of cash prizes for Sita from the state government âbut nothing came her way despite several remindersâ.
Sitaâs brother Dharmendra had even approached Social Justice Minister Gopal Bhargava about the announcement he has made in front of the contingent after Sita was awarded the medals. âThe Minister had announced that those winning gold medal will be given Rs 1 lakh cash reward, silver medal winners will get Rs 50,000 and while bronze winners were to get Rs 25,000,â claimed Dharmendra, âthe government has failed to fulfill its promise. It will be great, if they could at least give us some space near the lamp post,â he added.