Manmohan Singh Lodhi, a national-level para-sprinter, is forced to beg for living
Once acknowledged as Madhya Pradesh's best para-athlete, Manmohan Singh Lodhi is now forced to beg on the streets of Bhopal. Lodhi, a national-level para-sprinter from Narsinghpur, says he has started begging on the streets of Bhopal since the state govt is not fulfilling the promises of a government job among others made to him, after he won medals on national level.
"I have met Chief Minister four times, he made promises but didn't fulfill any of them," Lodhi told ANI, adding that he comes from a financially weak background and has his family to support. " If CM doesn't help me, I will earn my livelihood by begging on the streets," he says.
Para-sprinter Manmohan Singh Lodhi hails from Kandrapur village of Narsinghpur district's Goteganv tehsil. He lost one of his arms in an accident in 2009. But his disability did not break his spirit. He went to win the several national and state level awards. In 2017, Lodhi won silver medal in 100-200 m sprint in Ahmedabad. Thereafter, he was declared the best para-athlete in MP by the government.
But that is where his luck ended. Lodhi has failed to gain employment anywhere due to his disability, When the government announced 6000 job openings for divayangs in 2017, he hoped to get a spot, but he failed to secure a position despite his sports credentials.
Disheartened and disappointed, Lodhi has decided to beg on the streets to make the ends meet.
(With inputs from agencies)
