Patna, July 22: Suprabhat Kumar, Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam, Neha Kumari, Neha Kumari Gupta and Radha Kumari have brought laurels to the state but the government, it seems, is too busy to acknowledge their feat.

Art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhda Pandey today skipped an event organised to felicitate five intellectually challenged youths, who took part in the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Athens, between June 25 and July 4 this year. The children were felicitated by the Bihar Disabled Sports Academy at Scada Business Centre today. No one from the government turned up at the felicitation despite requests sent earlier from the academy.

Shivajee Kumar, the secretary of the academy, said: “We had requested Sukhda Pandey, and sports department officials to attend the event. Forget attending the function, none of them even bothered to send an appreciation letter.”

Shivajee said little words of appreciation from the minister would have boosted the morale of these special children who have overcome all odds to become world champions.

When The Telegraph contacted Sukhda Pandey, the minister said: “I have no knowledge about receiving any such invitation from the Bihar Disabled Sports Academy. Even if the academy had send the invitation, they should have reminded me about it yesterday or today.”

The five special children had taken part in the international event under the banner of the academy. While Neha Kumari Gupta won silver in women’s basketball, the other four bagged bronze — Suprabhat Kumar in 5km cycling, Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam in men’s volleyball, Neha Kumari in bocce doubles and Radha Kumari in women’s volleyball. Rupa Devi, mother of Neha Kumari Gupta, was upset that nobody from the government attended today’s event. She said: “I am proud of my daughter but their achievements should have been recognised by the government.”