Hockey is a Chance to Escape Poverty for These Girls in Jharkhand

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

"I play hockey because I want to grow up to be an officer. I want to go to the army so that my father's dream can be fulfilled. If I get a good job, my father, who is a labourer, won't have to work so hard," said Holika Tirki, a resident of Jharkhand’s Hulhundu village.

With a hockey stick in her hands and sweat on her forehead, Holika, who studies in Class 6, practises in a muddy ground.

Holika’s father earns Rs 350 per day working as labourer. Like her, almost all the girls on the hockey field are from poor families. Some of their parents work as labourers and some work in the field.

Rajesh Turkey, who came to pick up his daughter after practice, explained the real motive behind playing hockey. He said that if the girls play well then “you can get a job in sports. Sports quota provides jobs and if you get a job, you’ll be able to support yourself.”

Jharkhand’s Hulhundu village is ailed by poverty, limited resources and shortage of good food. But that has not been enough to deter these girls from taking up hockey, because as Turkey said, it is a chance to ensure a better future for themselves and their family.

But why hockey?

“There are no other games played here. This is why I play hockey,” said Ankita Lakra.

Hockey coach Dulari, who trains these young women says that the government has been providing them with hockey equipment, and also runs boarding centres. However, she added:

“The Rs 500 scholarship which was supposed to be given every month is comes only after 4-6 months. Sometimes even a year.”

Since the kids come from households which are below the poverty line, they often don’t get enough to eat. And Dulari adds that the government doesn’t do anything to help. Another coach, James, said:

“If you do not give a proper diet to a player then he/she would not be able to last in the game. They leave for school in the morning. They get food in the school. After that they come to the ground. Apart from that they do not get any other diet.”

Despite the Indian Hockey Team qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete from Jharkhand being in the national team, the state of hockey in the region is bad. Dulari says that the government does not pay enough attention to the sport.