Deogarh: A Class IX student of Jawahar Navodaya School, who brought laurels for the state participating in national-level school football tournaments, has suddenly found himself an outcast after losing one of his legs due to injury.
School authorities are allegedly refusing to allow Mantu Kishan of Panchamamahala village under Kudheigola panchayat, to sit in the classroom with his walking aid, his parents Subhasini and Gokul Kishan said. Mantu would be allowed only after getting a prosthetic limb attached, authorities reportedly told the parents. Mantu and his family have been running from pillar to post to acquire a prosthetic leg for the last two years but in vain.
“Though I made my village and school proud with my achievements in football, I now feel the very game has proved to be my undoing as it has barred me from going to school,” said Mantu.
The boy, undaunted by his setback, is urging people around him to support him financially so that he can get a prosthetic limb and carry on with his studies. However, he is yet to get any help.
Mantu has represented his school on nine occasions at the national level and 13 times at the state level. He has received several certificates throughout his career for his sporting excellence. However, his sporting ride was suddenly cut short in 2013 during a national tournament in Manipur.
Mantu sustained an injury in his right leg during a game and had to retire from the tournament. School authorities sent him home after administering him first aid. His leg started swelling after a few days but the family could not afford treatment at a bigger hospital. However, the sight of the bed-ridden Mantu finally compelled his poor parents to sell their land and admitted him to VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla.
To the nightmare of the family, Mantu was diagnosed with cancer in his right leg. He was then taken to Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack, where doctors decided to amputate his leg to save his life. A national-level footballer suddenly turned into a physically-challenged person overnight.
With his sporting career over, Mantu decided to get back to school. However, school authorities reportedly refused to allow him to school unless he had a prosthetic limb.
Though deeply hurt by the school’s policy, Mantu refused to give up hope and started making the rounds of government offices to fetch a prosthetic limb but it has eluded him so far.
“I would definitely resume my studies and make everyone proud like I did in sports,” says Mantu. PNN
