RANCHI: In about three years since she started practising karate, Vimala Munda had won medals for her country and state in international and national championships. But her bout against the situation arising out of Covid-19 has proved tougher than all her karate opponents. To make both ends meet, she now brews and sells hadia (local rice beer) and earns a meagrely Rs 300 a day at Kanke, close to the residences of chief minister Hemant Soren and Jharkhand high court Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan.
In 2011, Vimala, who started practising in 2008, won a silver at the 34th National Games held in the Jharkhand capital and a gold in the International Kudo Tournament which is hosted by Bollywood star Akshay Kumar every year in Maharashtra. Happy with her performances, the Jharkhand government had promised to give her a job. She was also among the 33 successful sports persons selected by the Hemant Soren government to give them employment under its new sports policy.
Taking cognizance of a tweet on her current condition, chief minister Hemant Soren directed the Ranchi district authorities and the state sports department to extend her all possible help.
While talking to reporters on the sidelines of unveiling freedom fighter Nilamber-Pitamber’s statue at Morhabadi ground on Sunday afternoon, Soren said, “The government is working on a new sports policy to help many like Vimala Munda. We are also going to launch a portal soon where players can report their problems so that we can initiate action. As far as jobs to the 33 selected players are concerned, it will be provided very soon.”
The 26-year-old began her fight against hunger and poverty in March when the pandemic first struck the country. “We are always hard pressed for money. My father, who doubled as a small-time farmer and a daily wage labourer, has been suffering from a number of health ailments. My mother would work as a domestic help or a daily wage labourer to support the family. Now, she cannot leave my father alone,” the karateka, who hails from Pathargonda locality, told TOI.
“We have a small piece of farm land which is not enough to get us two-square meals. On top of that, the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have hit us very hard. I had to shut my karate classes at Morhabadi ground because of the virus,” she added.
Vimala said she became fascinated by the sport early in her childhood after watching her maternal uncle practise it. She also said her family supported her when she decided to take it up for a career. “I enrolled for a karate training programme for the first time at my school after completing my matriculation examination in 2008. My maternal grandfather, a retired government peon, encouraged and helped me to take part in tournaments. He would spare some money from his monthly pension to help me in my training and travels. Though some sporting activities have slowly started, karate and many other contact-sports are yet to get the go-ahead signal from the authorities concerned,” she said.
“Now, I don’t have any option but to make and sell hadia, which is a common drink in tribal homes. I earn Rs 4 to Rs 5 from every glass I sell. This helps me support my family and training,” said Vimala, the eldest of five siblings (three bothers and two sisters).
The karateka rued that the government is yet to keep its promise made nine years ago when she won the silver medal at the Games. “The government had promised jobs to all medal winners but nothing has happened so far. In 2014, I and my family members met then chief minister Raghubar Das for help but got only assurances. The new government has also selected me for a job but I am not too optimistic.”