Distance Runner Prajakta Godbole Struggling to Make Ends Meet

Distance runner Prajakta Godbole is struggling to make two ends meet. In a Nagpur slum with a paralytic father and a mother who is out of a job due to the current lockdown she is struggling every day to find a way to feed her family but every morning she is clueless about how to earn for her next meal, reported PTI.

The 24-year-old Prajakta is Bhubaneswar half-marathon prize winner. Earlier, she was supported by her father Vilas Godbole who earlier worked as a security guard. But after meeting with an accident he is paralysed now, making Prajakta’s mother Aruna the breadwinner of the family. Before the lockdown, Aruna used to work as a cook at a catering service, earning Rs 5,000 to 6,000 a month. However, given the current circumstances the entire family is out of a job, thus living in a poor condition.

Key Takeaways:

• The 24-year-old Prajakta, her paralysed father Vilas Godbole and her mother Aruna who is out of work in lockdown, are struggling to make both ends meet.
• We are now surviving on help provided by people from nearby areas. They gave us rice, dal and other things: Prajakta Godbole
• Due to Coronavirus lockdown, the family of Nagpur-based middle-distance runner is living in poor condition. Prajakta does not know where her next meal will come from.

“We are a very poor family but at least we could survive with the money I used to get from my job. I used to get Rs 5000 to 6000 from joining a catering service but I can’t do it now. There is no income and we are penniless. We don’t know how long we will survive from others’ help,” Aruna said.

No training for the runner

As Indian athletes are earning the much-needed spotlight in international meets, Prajakta, a resident of Siraspeth slum in Nagpur, also aspires to make her country proud. She represented Indian Universities in the 5000m race at the World University Games in Italy in 2019. “I am not even thinking of training rather I don’t know how will I survive in this situation. Life is very harsh for us. The lockdown has brought ruin to us,” she said.

She clocked 18:23.92 and failed to qualify for the final round. She also finished second in the Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Half Marathon earlier this year with a timing of 1:33:05 in 21.097 km.

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Family needs support

Since catering business is down in lockdown, Prajakta’s mother is fighting to get a job. “We are now surviving on help provided by people from nearby areas. They gave us rice, dal and other things. So, we are having something to eat in the next two-three days but I don’t know what will happen after that. This lockdown has been a cruel thing for us,” a distraught Prajakta said.

Also Read: She drives an auto, aims for the IAS: Yellamma from Bengaluru

Feature Image Credit: The Indian Express

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