New Delhi: No wonder, the pandemic has pushed many into poverty and the story of an international football player from Jharkhand is no exception. With the pandemic hitting hard, Sangeeta Soren who once represented India in Thailand and Bhutan is now forced into utmost poverty as she fails to get any aid from the government.
Taking note of the condition, the National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma, on Saturday has written a letter to the Jharkhand Chief Secretary asking to extend help and support to international football player Sangeeta Soren so that she can live a dignified life as well as feed her family. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the President of All India Football Federation.
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According to the Commission's chief Rekha Sharma, NCW has come across a Twitter post stating that the international level football player from Jharkhand, Sangeeta is working as a labourer in a brick kiln due to financial constraints.
Hailing from the Bansmuri village in Baghmara block of Dhanbad, Sangeeta had represented India’s women football team in the under 18 levels at international events in Thailand and Bhutan in 2018-19, and later became a part of the senior national team in 2020.
Sangeeta is now compelled to work as a brick kiln worker in her village due to the poor financial condition of her family. She plays in the forward position as a striker in the national team.
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The NCW informed that the player is trying to get a job for the past three months but hardly getting any help. Much to her plight, she was only given a sum of ten thousand rupees as an acknowledgement of her representation at the international level.
"The condition of Sangeeta does bring embarrassment and shame to the country which should be addressed as a priority. A player like Sangeeta has not just represented India on an international platform but she has also represented Jharkhand in the world due to her hard work and consistency," Chairperson Rekha Sharma added.
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