Bijnor: There is no dearth of talent in a vast country like India but what is sad to notice here is that some of these talents are denied progress due to financial issues which makes a certain section of them take extreme measures such as suicide.
20-year-old Ravi Dixit, a squash player, who won gold in the 2010 Asian Junior Championship may not have taken an extremist step but the young lad has “auctioned” his kidney to support his campaign for next month’s South Asian Games.
He posted on social media and invited buyers to buy his kidney.
Dhampur Sugar Mill has supported me but how long will they continue to support me? Next month, the games are starting in Guwahati and I am representing India. To prepare for the tournament, I am training in Chennai but I have not been able to arrange enough money to fund my campaign for the games. I have lost my determination. I am ready to sell my kidney. If anyone needs a kidney, they can contact me. The price of my kidney is Rs 8 lakh," he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
"I have been playing squash for the last 10 years. Even after winning so many medals and representing India so many times, I do not get any support to take my squash to the national and international levels," Dixit was quoted as saying in a report.
The drastic move has his parents, in particular, his father Ramkailash Dixit anxious.
I have spoken to Ravi. He is in Chennai right now but I spoke to him on the phone. His mother and I are imploring him not to take the step. Together, we will figure out a way to deal with this crisis. This way, he will ruin both his life and career. I am saddened to hear that my son is taking such a drastic measure. I funded my daughter's wedding with Ravi's winnings. Since he has to support the family as well, he cannot use much of what he gets for himself."
"My husband is a class-IV employee at the Dhampur Sugar Mill. It is very difficult for us to support the family on his income alone. The mill has been very generous in its support to Ravi's career but we are too embarrassed to ask them for more help," Dixit's mother, Sarvesh, added.
However, there may be just some hope for Ravi as a few politicians have offered support. Moolchand Chauhan, UP state minister, said, “Ravi is a very talented player. I am shocked to hear that he has offered to auction his kidney. I will meet his family soon and take the matter to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. We will help him in any way that we can."
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