Archer, forced to work as laborer, granted Rs. 5 lakh
Former archer, Ashok Soren, has been granted Rs. 5 lakh by Sports Ministry after it had come to light that the athlete was working as a daily wage laborer. It was reported that the former archer was working under the Government's rural employment guarantee scheme. The grant has been given from Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons. Here's more.
28-year-old living in indigent conditions
The Sports Ministry issued a press release which claimed, "The financial assistance has been given from Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS)." The former archer was living in Jamshedpur in indigent conditions.
Ministry doing its bit for struggling athletes
Ashok Soren had won 2 gold medals at the 2008 South Asian Games. This move by the Sports Ministry comes as a big relief for the player. Earlier, the Sports Ministry also assisted Arjuna awardee archer Limba Ram, who is suffering from a neuro generative disease. Besides Ram, Rs. 5 lakh was also granted to ailing archer Gohela Boro.