Who is Sangeeta Soren? Once celebrated as an international football star, Sangeeta Soren, a women’s football team player from Jharkhand is now working in a brick kiln because of poverty and neglect.
Sangeeta Soren, a potential international football player, who has even received a national call-up last year is now forced to work in a brick kiln because of extreme poverty and no aid from the authorities. Soren’s situation has gained recognition after the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote a letter to the Jharkhand government on May 22, requesting financial help for the football player.
The NCW said that Soren's situation is embarrassing and shameful for the country and it should be addressed as a priority. "Sangeeta has not just represented India on an International platform but she has also represented Jharkhand in the world due to her own hard work and consistency,” the NCW said.
Who Is Sangeeta Soren? 10 Things To Know
- Sangeeta Soren is a 20-year-old international football player from Jharkhand, Dhanbad. She had a successful outing in the Under 19 and 19 teams.
- Soren has represented India at the Under 18 (U-18) and Under 19 (U-19) levels in international competitions. In 2018, she was picked for the U-18 squad at the continental level in Bhutan and U-19 in Thailand.
- The footballer was offered to join the national team in 2020 but could not continue playing due to the COVID-19 enforced lockdown which also led to the discontinuation of competitive tournaments. This forced her to go back to her hometown.
- Today, Soren is working as a daily-wage labourer in a brick kiln in Dhanbad’s Basamudi village due to the financial constraints of her family.
- The 20-year-old has an ailing father who is visually challenged. Soren’s father has a hearing impairment and regularly needs treatment and medicines due to his condition.
- Soren’s elder brother also works at a construction site but has irregular income which also contributes to the family’s financial burden.
- Soren was previously promised help and support by Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren after a video of her seeking help from the government went viral on social media. But since there was no action, Soren continued to work in the brick kiln.
- The 20-year-old said that many other players from Jharkhand are not getting the recognition they deserve as they are neglected by the state government.
- “Every player needs good food, practice. But the government here is not serious towards the players. That is why players like me are working as wage labourers, '' Soren said.
- Upon learning about Soren’s situation, the office of Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju reportedly contacted the footballer and also offered financial help to her family.
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