Special athlete Neha Rajak is yet to receive her cash award amounting to Rs 4 lakh from the central government. She won four bronze medals at the World Summer Games held in Abu Dhabi in March last year.

The 19-year-old mentally-impaired powerlifter and her family are undergoing severe financial crisis since the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown was imposed in March 2020. The family received some monetary aid and groceries from different quarters, but those resources have been depleted now.

Special Olympics Jharkhand (SOJ) has requested Special Olympics Bharat (SOB), a national organisation which works for the promotion of mentally-impaired athletes, to sanction Rs 1 lakh to Neha.

“I have requested SOB CEO Denzil Keelor to help out Neha whose family is in deep financial crisis. Our athlete stands to receive a cash award of Rs 4 lakh – Rs 1 lakh for each bronze medal she won in Abu Dhabi. However, there has been a delay on part of the central government for releasing cash awards in view of the lockdown. We are very optimistic that the SOB will do the needful,” said SOJ assistant area director Satbir Singh Sahota.

According to him, money to be sanctioned by SOJ can be adjusted when Neha receives her cash award. “Our aim is to help Neha’s family somewhat overcome the financial crisis. We have already requested SOB to pursue Neha’s cash award with the central government,” Sahota, who provided Rs 5,000 on his own and also arranged grocery for the struggling family, added.

Sources in the SOJ revealed that SOB chairman Satish Pillai is keen on helping Neha. “Pillai has approved SOJ’s request and the money will be sanctioned soon,” a source revealed.

Besides Sahota, SOJ area director and philanthropist Bailey Bodhanwala has contributed Rs 10,000 for their clearing Neha’s house rent. A UK-based businessman has donated Rs 10,000 for the family. The District Legal Services Authority also provided grocery to the family. Moreover, the state sports department has promised Rs 2 lakh to Neha (for winning medals at World Games) from the Sports Welfare Fund Scheme.

Neha’s father Vinod worked at a laundry in Bistupur. He lost his job during the lockdown. Her mother Anju, a domestic help, faced a similar problem. Both are still jobless. The family mostly sustains on maarh-bhaat (starchy rice).