Odia star kabaddi player wants to leave state

Jajpur: Alleging apathy and harassment of government, international Kabaddi player Rashmita Sahu today said that she has decided to move out of the state in search of a job to eke out a living. Rashmita of Badaniranjanpur village in Jajpur district is the first and only Odia girl who participated in the Kabaddi world cup tournament held at Patna from March one to four this year. She bought laurels for the state after India won the tournament by defeating Iran by 25-19 points.

"After my return, Railway officials came to me and took copies of educational certificates and other documents assuring me a job in the Indian Railways. But, no further communication has been received from them so far. Rs 50,000 cash award announced by Odisha Olympic Association to me at that time has also not been paid," Rashmita said.

"In other states, men and women who create name in the sports get many incentives including jobs by their respective governments. But, in Odisha we are ignored as our government has no policy or political will to support us to maintain the livelihood. Hence, I have decided to move out of Odisha in search of a job outside to sustain my family," she said.

"My daughter was the only one from our state who participated in the international kabaddi tournament. I hoped she will be rewarded with a job by the state government," Rashmita`s father Duryodhan Sahu, said. Jajpur district Collector Anil Kumar Samal said though the state had no provision of providing jobs to sports personalities, he would forward Rashmita?s case to the state government.