Sonu Sinha Case Reveals Tragedy of Indian Sports

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Apr 14: In an incident that shocked the nation, a national volleyball player, Arunima Sinha alias Sonu, was mercilessly thrown off a train by three men who tried to rob her, near Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

As she fell, she was hit by another train, which crushed one of her legs. She now lies in the hospital, with one leg amputated, fighting severe head injuries, and worse, on the edge of desperation as all her dreams lie shattered to bits.

And all that the government could do was announce a compensation of a mere Rs 25,000, and a job in the Railways. Of course, union sports minister Ajay Maken was quick to add, "If she requires more we'll provide her with it." Take note: IF she requires.

A quick flashback to April 2 and the frenzy that followed. Our dream of 28 years was finally realized as the Indian cricket team won the coveted World Cup. No doubt they deserved it all - the adulation, the rewards, the honourary degrees, for their achievement was extraordinary. Millions poured in from all corners, the BCCI alone announcing Rs one crore to each player, and most of the state governments chipping in with their crores. Overnight, even novices in the team become millionaires.

And then, a sportswoman who had only one dream in life is pushed out of a moving train, loses her leg, and gets only Rs 25,000 for the loss.

However, it is not cricket that should be blamed here, but the attitude of our government and the sports ministry. Why is it that a dream fulfilled fetches millions, while a shattered one just Rs 25,000 and a mediocre job? Why should compensation for loss be any lesser than reward for achievement? We have lost a national athlete here, an athlete who has fought all her life to achieve her one goal. Our sportspersons work as hard as our cricketers to achieve their dreams, perhaps even more, given the lack of financial and infrastructural resources and the lackadaisical attitude of the sports officials. Then why should they be treated as lesser mortals and the cricketers as demigods?

Arunima had fought it out with male volleyball players as they were not enough women players, and yet she performed so well that she was selected to play for Uttar Pradesh. Then on, she represented her state in a number of national-level tournaments. On the night of the tragedy, she was on the way to Noida to seek a job in the paramilitary force because of the financial conditions at home, and also because paramilitary forces like the CISF promote sportspersons. And now she is at the mercy of our apathetic government. Incidentally, she was the sole bread winner of her family of five.

Lying on her hospital bed, Arunima says that the compensation will run out too soon, and what she needs is a permanent government job. She has been promised a job in the Railways, but it would hardly be a 'compensation' for her irreparable loss. The Railway Claims Tribunal too has promised compensation, but is 'yet to decide the amount'.

And meanwhile, none of the culprits have been caught. It is a shame that women in the country are not safe even in a train. Normally, a train that has 24 coaches should have four security guards, and out of the 11,765 trains in the country, only 3,500 have railway protection force. No need to guess, Arunima fought her attackers all alone, and lost.

Update

Sports Min Provides Rs 2 Lac Medical Assistance to Sonu Sinha

New Delhi, Apr 14 (PTI): Sports Minister Ajay Maken today announced a medical compensation of Rs 2,00,000 for the treatment of injured national level woman volleyball player Arunima Sinha alias Sonu, who lost her left leg after being thrown out of a moving train near Barelli on Monday.

Maken, who had earlier announced an immediate ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 for her treatment, said the government would give more monetary help if required. The Railway Ministry also today assured a job to Arunima, who is recuperating in the Barelli civic hospital. Railway Board Chairman Vivek Sahai said Railways would also bear all her treatment cost including providing her a prosthetic leg.

"Last night, the Sports ministry had announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 25,000 and today after receiving the report from the SAI officials, we have decided to give her a medical compensation of Rs 2,00,000 for her treatment," Maken said.

"As soon as the sports ministry came to know about the unfortunate incident yesterday, we deputed three officers from the Sports Authority of India to visit the hospital, where Arunima alias Sonu is admitted, and submit a report in this matter immediately.

"After receiving the report, we decided to give Rs 200,000 for her medical treatment and if necessary, we are going to give more money for whatever treatment she requires to get into best of health," he added.

He also appealed to the Uttar Pradesh administration to speed up its inquiry into the matter and ensure the security of women travelling in trains. "I would also like to appeal to the UP state government to come forward and help this athlete. It is the duty of the UP adminsitration to take care of Sonu Sinha. She had represented Uttar Pradesh in National School Games in 2002 and the incident happened near Bareilly, so I want them to help her in all possible ways and compensate her adequately. But at this stage I don't want to get into details," he said.

Sonu, a 23-year-old national level player, was pushed by three men out of the Padmavat Express on Monday between Chenati and Bareilly railway stations while she tried to resist a robbery attempt.

As she fell on the track, she was hit by another train moving on a parallel track and her left leg below the knee was crushed. A profusely bleeding Sonu was rushed to the district hospital in Bareilly, where her leg was amputated. She was travelling to Gautam Buddha Nagar in Noida to appear in a CISF recruitment examination next month.

Maken also informed reporters that he had written to Home and Railway ministries to give a suitable job to volleyball player, since she was travelling by train for her examination for CISF which comes under Home ministry.

"I wrote a letter last night to the Railway minister asking her to give adequate compensation to this athlete and also to speed up the inquiry so that justice can be done.

"Similarly, I have written a letter to the Home minister, faxed it to his office and residence today, requesting him that since she was going for a CISF interview which she will now not be able to attend and perhaps after losing a limb, she may not be able to play as actively as she used to play earlier, it would be in fitness of things and justice that CISF gives her a job for which she was travelling by that train," he said.

Sonu had also represented Chattisgarh in the Inter-university Volleyball championship in 2004.