In a heart-wrenching revelation, about 26 Indian archers staying at a government-run hostel at Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district have allegedly been forced to clean toilets, drink dirty water and consume substandard food.
According to a report published by Hindustan Times, the archers have competed at national and international level.
“We are forced to clean toilets and cut grass. When we brought this to the notice of Mr Tewari, we are threatened and even abused,” Hindustan Times quoted an archer as saying.
The incidence came to light after the archers went on a three-day hunger strike before filing a written complaint with Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The newspaper in its report also stated that the archers have blamed sports officer, Anil Tewari, in their complaint. According to HT, the archers in their complaint said that only Rs 145 was being spent on them every day as against sanctioned budget of Rs 250 for food per archer per day. They also claimed that they were not being provided with equipments like target face and target stands.
State sports minister, Chetan Chauhan told HT that he has promised quick action to the archers.
Earlier, Tewari, against whom the complaint was filed, said that he has submitted his reply to ‘higher authorities’.
Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are yet to respond to this issue.
