Times of India: Ex-international hockey player depends on paddy farming to eke out a living

By Divya Dubey

RAIPUR: Former international hockey player Vincent Lakra, who represented India in 1978 World Cup at Buenos Aires, Argentina, is now struggling to adjust to life beyond the turf in a remote tribal village in Chhattisgarh where he does a mono crop paddy farming to feed his family of 11 members.

Hailing from Sithraa village in Dharamjaigarh block of Raigarh district, Lakra was in the team which had won the test match against Pakistan before the 1978 World Cup. The player, who was the part of team India that played matches in Holland, England and Pakistan, now lives a secluded life in the remote tribal area.

“Lakra was one of the best central forwards in the team that played 1978 World Cup in Argentina. His energy level was tremendous and he never used to get tired on the ground “, former Indian hockey player and Coach Balbir Singh Dosangh told TOI over phone from Chandigarh.

Lakra, recalling his friendship with famous film star Sunil Dutt said, “Being a sports lover, Dutt was very friendly with me during my glorious days. Once, he asked me to settle down in Mumbai but I could not do so as I had to return to my native village Dharamjaigarh to support my family. Since 1984, I am living here at my village”. “I played many matches for Bombay Gold Cup, Aga Khan Cup of Pakistan and Murugappa Gold Cup in Chennai.” Lakra added.

“I started playing at an early age and subsequently got selected for the 1970 Commonwealth Games but unfortunately I could not put on the Indian jersey at that time. I represented India in the 1978 World Cup. Finally, in 1984 I hung up my shoes”, emotional Lakra said.

Lakra said, after playing 14 years at domestic and international level, he was expecting some financial security from the then (united) Madhya Pradesh government and later from Chhattisgarh government.

“Right now we are struggling to meet ends and do not have adequate sources of income to give our children proper education or even provide them basic amenities. I don’t even have a pakka (lintel) house to live. I get a pension of Rs 5,000 from the state government but that is not enough to support a family of 11 members,” he told TOI. “To increase my earnings and make my family financially independent, I wanted to try my hand in coaching and for that I talked to senior authorities but failed to turn the things in my favour.”

“At present state Government is promoting Hockey at very high level they had conducted the World Hockey League matches in Raipur and invited me for the inaugural ceremony,” he said.

Ramesh Sharma – a veteran journalist from Pathalgaon in Jashpur district, who witnessed the glorious days of Lakra and the fame he got in this region after international events, said in 2003 the then union minister for sports and youth welfare Uma Bharti had announced that a first astro-turf hockey stadium would be built in Jashpur in recognition of Lakra’s contribution towards the hockey. “But this did not move further”.

When contacted, state sports and youth welfare secretary Sonmoni Borah told TOI that ” the state government is in the process of revising the policy to honour veteran sportspersons who played in Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and other national/international events. “At present, state is providing a pension of Rs 5000 to Vincent Lakra. We are trying to enhance the facilities to be provided to internationals like him and the guidelines for the same are being revised by the state government,” he added.