At a time the when India celebrated the National Sports Day on Saturday and honoured sportspersons, a national-level woman football player from Jharsuguda district, who represented the State on several occasions, was still eking out a living by rearing goats.
Tanuja Bage, who once had a berth in the national football team for her quality play from 2003 to 2011, is leading a miserable life along with husband Mahani Kandara and two children. She is living along with her family in a dilapidated hut built on a patch of Government land at one end of Debadihi village.
Bage played four matches as the goalkeeper of the national football team till 2011 and won accolades. She also represented Odisha thrice at the national-level rugby championships.
For sustenance, Bage these days is taking goats of other villagers to forest for grazing while her husband works as a daily wage labourer. She is yet to receive any assistance from the State Government. All her pleas Have fallen on deaf ears even though she approached several Government officials for help.
Last year, the Sports and Youth Affairs Department had assured her to provide a job, but the promise is yet to be met. Railways’ and Nalco’s assurances for help are also yet to be Fulfilled, she
rues.
