The Hindu : Sport / Sailing : The plight of a champion

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Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
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Sport - Sailing

The plight of a champion

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Despite being an Asian Games medallist and an Arjuna award-winning sailor, C.S. Pradipak finds himself in troubled waters for reason beyond his control.

Under the Government's pension scheme for Asian Games medallists, Pradipak was entitled to receive pension since the inception of the scheme. However, Pradipak was unaware of the scheme till around a year ago. He filed an application for it only in early 2006.

The application did not end his misery. Till date, the authorities have failed to address his grievances. With all options closed, Pradipak has finally written a letter to the Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyer.

During his days as a sailor, Mani Shankar Aiyer was Pradipak's family friend. "I have tried occasionally to keep in touch with you but my e-mail and telephonic messages have obviously not got your attention," Pradipak writes in the letter.

The letter conveys his distress. He hopes that his "pension with arrears will be released immediately."

The Parkinson syndrome affected sailor, who continues to be a member of the international jury since 1975, is also in search of employment. He hopes that the Government would provide him a job that would make use of his experience.

He also hopes that he would be allotted a house site similar to the ones given to other Arjuna awardees from the State. He points out that there is no consistency in the Government's orders.

"There is no model Government order available here that can easily be followed. Copy of any such orders by Central and the State Governments may be forwarded to all concerned."

In spite of leading the Indian team that won five medals in the Asian Games, Pradipak's life has been one of misery.

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