Following Gaon Connection‘s June 13 report on the plight of national athlete Supriti Kachhap which mentioned that the 19-year-old is unable to afford the much needed running shoes, the Jharkhand government has now provided her with a sum of Rs 155,000.
Sources in the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs informed Gaon Connection that Kachhap did not receive the financial support from the state government earlier as she had not applied for it.
“The department took notice of the gold medalist after news in Gaon Connection was published. Officials were sent to Supriti’s house to verify her documents and she was given the cash award,” sources informed Gaon Connection.
“The state government provides cash rewards to medal winners and applications are invited every year. Supriti could not receive the cash money earlier as she had not applied for it,” the source added.
Speaking to Gaon Connection over phone Kachhap stated that on July 8, her coach Prabhat Ranjan Tiwari and officials from the sports department had informed her about the cash prize which is awarded by the Jharkhand Sports Authority.
“District officials have also assured me of ensuring scholarship to let me continue pursuing my sports career in athletics,” she said.
“I have ordered shoes worth Rs 18,000 and within 10 days I will get them delivered to me. I am hopeful that the new shoes will help in improving my performance. I am supposed to spend around Rs 10,000 monthly on my diet to have a fit body and mind. I will spend the rest of the amount on diet and purchasing other necessary kits needed for my performance,” Kachhap added.
Meanwhile, the athlete’s mother is glad at the financial support provided by the state government.
Sources in the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs informed Gaon Connection that Kachhap did not receive the financial support from the state government earlier as she had not applied for it.
“It is the first time that the state government has come up with a cash award for Supriti. Due to lack of information about the application sought for cash reward, she never applied for it. However, I am thankful to the Gaon Connection for raising the issue,” Balmati Oraon, Kachhap’s proud mother said.
The athlete’s mother has been managing her expenditure with her salary which she receives by working as a class four worker at the block development office in Ghagra town which is situated in the Gumla district.
“I have been somehow managing Supriti’s expenditure with my little salary. It was difficult for me to spend money on her shoes as they cost Rs 10,000 to 20,000. Now I am happy that she will spend money on improving her health and performance on the track. The family has strictly told the daughter that she should not spend money on family affairs,” her mother said.
