Sita Sahu should the nation's most unfortunate child who is alive today. She was born and brought up in Rewa and was mentally challenged. The special need was her first bane of existence and then she had special talents, special in terms normal terms (and not the disability) when it came to athletics. She could take part in the special Olympics held in Athens, 2011 and also brought back two bronze medals for India.

However, not many Indians know her name. The government of the state itself has neglected the child. The 15 year old who brought laurels to the nation now sells gol gappas on the road. While her mother should be boasting of her skills in athletics, she says her kids proudest achievement is being able to make the roundest gol gappas while fying them crisp brown.

If she received the Rs 1 lakh incentive as promised by the state government for the winners from Athens with two bronze medals -in 200 metres and 1,600 metres- from the special Games. Gopal Bhargava the social welfare minister then promised Rs 1 lakh for gold, Rs 75,000 for silver and Rs 50,000 for bronze. However, CM decided to donate money for his personal fame only. The CM rewarded the member of another state Susheel Kumar who won the “regular” Olympics.

Kiran Sahu, her mother understood that the government will not give her the incentives she deserved. So she decided to teach her some vocational skills that will let her live and earn money. Gol gappas. Imagine where she would have been with the incentives and further support for the government? This is the primary reason why out of a population of 1.3 billion people, we have little to no winners.

(AW- Anil)