Budhia can't outrun poverty, returns to slum

NOBODY'S CHILD: Budhia and his mother Sukanti start a new life after he returned home.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Budget and you: How policies impact your life | Secrecy Cordon around the Budget 

• 5 feared dead in Madhya Pradesh factory explosions 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• CPI-M Central Committee to act to curb Kerala infights 

• Recruiter of child suicide bombers held in Afghan 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief | Pay Tribute 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• Pranab has promises to keep in Budget of hope 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Bollywood stars sizzle at the IIFA fiesta 

• IBNFocus: TDS process simplified 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• CNN-IBN debate: Homosexuality vs Indian morality 

• Watch: Parties react to HC judgement on gays 

• Railways fail to provide basic facilities to passengers 

• Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain 

• Shiney denies he had sex with domestic help 

• Scrap EVMs, let's go back to ballot, says Advani 

• British spy chief's cover blown on Facebook 

• British Islamic group plans coup in Pakistan: report 

• Youth shot dead by cops had 26 injury marks 

• Kargil victory was certain: ex-army chief 

• Varun fears threat to life; Maneka slams Govt 

• Kambakkht Ishq is not vulgar or offensive: Akshay 

• No minister contacted Madras HC judge: CJI 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Bhubaneswar: Child prodigy Budhia Singh became a marathon runner to escape from poverty but he couldn’t outrun destiny.

Budhia, 5, has returned to the slum where he was born and where his mother sold him to a coach for Rs 800. Budhia made international headlines when two years ago he began running record distances but now once again he is just another kid in the slums.

His mother, Sukanti Singh, washes utensils for a living and can barely feed Budhia and his siblings. “Where will Budhia stay? Where will he study and practise? The government needs to give Budhia a house and coach for him to become a champion. Budhia isn’t just mine, he's everybody’s child,” says Sukanti.

The Orissa State Judo Centre, where Budhia used to practise, has been deserted for the last week and Budhia's coach Biranchi Das is in jail for allegedly torturing him.

Fame had changed Budhia’s life: he got a regular and balanced diet, training and even massages in the morning. All that has changed now: the boy once touted as India’s Olympic hope does now plays with other children in the slum. But for all that, his dreams are still very much alive.

“I can't go to school because it's too far. If I get a new coach I will start running again,” he says. The Orissa government has promised to take over Budhia's education and training.

“The government is ready to take full responsibility for Budhia's studies and sports. We want to see him become a champion," says Pramilla Mallick, Minister for Women and Child Welfare.

Budhia has yet to see those promises fulfilled though and all he can hope for is that once again he will run.