The devastating second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has not just been a health concern for people all across India but has also had a huge economic impact. With lockdown being imposed, either partially or fully, people have found earning their bread and butter tough. In Uttar Pradesh, many sports coaches have taken up odd jobs to make ends meet.
Before the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic came, these coaches were training students on a contract basis but have had to do menial jobs to some sort of money coming in the family in the absence of a job.
A report in India Today highlighted the plight of such coaches, showcasing how even some of the most renowned names who have earned recognition at the highest level are now forced to do low-grade jobs
One of the cases higlighted how Sanjeev Kumar Gupta (from Neelmatha, Lucknow) has become a carpenter despite having won several medals in fencing and is also a diploma holder from NIS Patiala in the sport. Gupta had plans to send his 12-year-old daughter, Kyati, to Poland and represent the country in fencing but the pandemic put cold water on his plans.
The situation is such that Khyati has been forced to remain at home, with the family even finding it tough to pay her school fees.
Another case involves the 44-year-old Mahendra Pratap Singh who is an experienced archery coach. He spends his day selling samosas, fritters and other snacks. He has a diploma from National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Kolkata but questions his decision to get into sports as a career now. He had also represented UP at the national level for 8 years.
The 56-year-old Mohammad Naseem Quereshi is a national-level boxing coach but has now become a tea-seller. Having been forced to sell tea to make ends meet, Quereshi recently received some financial support from his students who were disappointed seeing him resort to such a job.
RP Singh, UP’s director of Sports, has said that contractual staff will be given preference, having seen the plight of such established coaches in the state.
“Decision to hire staff on outsourcing was implemented across all government departments and the contractual coaches should apply through the designated portal for selection through outsourcing agencies. He admitted to Aaj Tak that after seeing the case studies, he will give preference to contractual staff for sure,” he said.
