Boxing hero Ramuri gets knocked down by negligence & misery

Rourkela: Ramuri Singh Gagarei, a national boxing champion whose blows knocked down opponents and inspired many both inside and outside the ring, was rushed to hospital due to some health problems on Thursday. However, living in misery, he has no money even for his treatment.

An amount of Rs 25000 he was awarded some time back is all that he has to meet hospital expenses.

Ramuri, a resident of Mundari basti in Rourkela, brought home laurels during 1980s by winning championships both at state and national levels but the last decade has aggravated his suffering due to utter poverty.

His condition worsened after he was struck by partial paralysis and crippled him since last three years.

With help coming in only from his brother, Ramuri survives but has not been able to feed his family. He has been running from pillar to post in search of some work but nothing has come off as yet. Presently he helps his wife, Sukumani Gagarei, in running a grocery store.

“I won silver medal at Kanpur National Championships and Gold at state level in 1985 followed by Gold at Chandigarh National Championships in 1987 but right now I have no source of livelihood other than a small shop,” says Ramuri.

“Our financial condition is very poor and we don’t have enough money to treat my husband so I request government to provide us some financial assistance,” Sukumani says.

On the other hand the local administration and sports secretary have promised to provide necessary assistance to Ramuri. “I had asked him to apply for assistance under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Now I have come to know that his health condition is in bad shape and so I have decided to send someone to get his application so that we can make arrangements for financial assistance under Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF), Red Cross funds, Rourkela Sub-collector Himansu Sekhar Behera said.

“For the last 18 years he has not done anything so I will examine his case and see if he can be assisted through government or any private sources,” Sports Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev said.

Anyone willing to help can contact Ramuri on his mobile number 9114691527.