Rourkela: Over 60 sportspersons belonging to various disciplines silently demonstrated before the additional district magistrate's office here in support of demand for removal of the no-recruitment policy of sportspersons in Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

"We have already suffered, but we are here for those sportspersons, who are into game with all dedication and discipline with an eye on the future and also with the hope that they will be employed in the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). The practice of no-recruitment of sportspersons in the RSP should stop," said Sangita Singh, a powerlifter of national repute during her time.

Similar sentiments were echoed by others such as former boxer Ramuri Singh Gagurai, now partially paralytic on left leg. Gagurai, who had won gold in junior and bronze in senior national categories, said: "I am partially paralytic, but there are many boxers, who are very promising and practising hard. Their hopes should not get shattered for this policy. I pray to the Union sports minister to consider our cases. We gave our prime to sports and today we are suffering with no hope in sight."

For Iswar Machkand, a junior Mr India in 55kg category, life is no better. At present, he is working as a Class IV employee in a private school in Balangir for a paltry sum of Rs 4,000. "Why do sportspersons in India have such plights? It is because no one really cares for sports in this country other than cricket. It was a great mistake when I had taken up bodybuilding. Today, I am here because I want to express solidarity with the future generation, who are perhaps in a better environment," said Machkand as he had come all the way from Balangir to be with his fellow sportspersons.

The first female cricketer of the state, Susmita Patttnaik, who now owns a bookshop, said: "It is good that Indian female cricket is progressing and flourishing with media coverage and public interest. But, we remain unsung and are languishing. My humble request to the sports minister is not to let this new generation's hope and aspirations go waste as they are also very dedicated and patriotic."

The last two recruitments in the RSP had been conducted in 1993-94 and 96-97. Around 10 and 12 sportspersons in various disciplines were recruited at that time. Since then, no recruitment has been done in the RSP. Interestingly, all these sportspersons, who were present on Tuesday at the additional district magistrate's office had represented the RSP and brought laurels.