Bimla Munda is a national medal winner karate player. But now, poverty is forcing her to sell rice beer in order to survive, as per a report in Hindustan Times. The 26-year-old is doing so on the outskirts of Ranchi as she awaits the government job for which she was chosen.?
Munda made Jharkhand proud on the national stage. In 2011 she won silver at the National Games. She was also coaching this year to support herself. But in March she had to close down due to COVID lockdown.?
¡°I had to shut the coaching after a month due to the lockdown. So I have no option but to sell hadia for livelihood,¡± she said.?
Munda is a commerce graduate and resides with her 84-year-old maternal grandfather at Patragonda village in Ranchi¡¯s Kanke block.?
Her father (45) is a farmer who also worked as a daily labourer.?
¡°But my father¡¯s health is not good now. So, he doesn¡¯t go out for labourer¡¯s jobs,¡± she added.?
¡°I have been living with my grandfather since childhood. My grandfather retired before 2000 when Jharkhand was not separated from Bihar. He gets pension around Rs 6000 a month but most of his pension amount goes into his medicine,¡± she went on to say.?
Munda has also won gold at the 2015 All India Karate Open Championship and the 2019 Federation Cup.?
While she waits for the job, it shows how our non-mainstream athletes are forgotten. It is truly sad and one hopes she gets the job soon. After all, she did well for her state, the least the state can do is take care of her basic needs. ?