25K: Govt's offer for athlete who lost leg

Bareilly: Twenty three-year-old national level volleyball player Arunima Sinha lost her leg after she was pushed out of a train in Uttar Pradesh by three men who were trying to rob her. Her attackers are still at large. "Now my dreams will never be fulfilled," she said speaking to NDTV from her hospital bed today. (Watch)

Sports Minister Ajay Maken has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 for Arunima. He has also said he will write to the Home Ministry asking for a suitable job for her.

"We have written to the Railway Ministry. We are giving her ex-gratia of Rs 25000 immediately. If needed, we will provide financial assistance as and when needed. We have directed the Sports Authority of India to go and meet her and Rs 25000 assistance will be provided to her by the evening," he said. (Watch)

"I am also going to write to the Home Ministry...since she was going for recruitment of CISF...now she is no longer a player so she should be given the job....Railways should also give compensation...we have asked them for a investigation," he added.

Arunima says a "small compensation" will not help her. "A few thousand rupees cannot last long. I have a full life to live and what I need is not small compensation but a permanent government job," she said.

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The police have registered a case of attempt to murder but none of her attackers have been traced so far. The Railways has announced a reward of Rs 15000 for anyone who provides information on the incident, particularly on people who pushed Arunima from the moving train.  
Arunima was headed to Delhi to apply for a CISF job when a group of men tried to snatch her gold chain. When she fought back, they pushed her onto the track as the train was passing through Bareilly.

She is now in hospital. ''I fell on the adjoining track, but could not get up. I was too late. I saw a train come and run over my left leg. The villagers found me and brought me to this hospital,'' said Arunima.

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''She was quite critical when they brought her here. We had no choice but to amputate her leg,'' said Dr Vijay Yadav, the Chief Medical Superintendent of Bareilly Hospital.

Arunima is a student at Awadh University. She is also the sole earning member of a family of five. "I wanted to play for the country. I also wanted a steady job. Now I don't know what I will do.''

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This horrific attack comes less than two months after national-kabaddi player, 21-year-old Manisha Rana, was shot at point blank range in Patna by a drunk CRPF jawan, who felt snubbed because she had refused to give her phone number.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP ARUNIMA, PLEASE SEND IN YOUR CHEQUE IN FAVOUR OF -

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Arunima Sinha
A/C No. 30867954764
State Bank of India
Branch: Shehzadpur, Akbarpur
District: Ambedkarnagar
Uttar Pradesh
India