Father is not even informed about daughter's National Children's Award
Amod Kumar Sahu, Ormanjhi. Anushka Kumari, daughter of a poor laborer from the block, received the National Child Award from Rashtrapati Bhavan, and there is still a simple silence in the village. Anushka Kumari, 15 year old daughter of Rukka Munda Toli of Ormanjhi block, got the honor from the highest forum of the country, but its full echo has not yet reached the village.
When the local correspondent of Dainik Jagran reached the village, Anushka's father Dilesh Munda was found sitting quietly on the wall of a culvert in the village. He did not have any information about the honor his daughter received, he just told that, two days ago the daughter was called by the Prime Minister, she has gone to Delhi with her mother and elder brother.
At the same time, the villagers including Anushka's cousin aunt Usha Toppo are not aware of their daughter's achievements. Told that cousin sister Kareena Kumari, Rima Kumari and Kajal Kumari of the village, five daughters of the village are also involved in football.
Broken home, big dreams, flight amidst struggles
In the colony where Anushka lives, there is a dilapidated two-room house made of alabaster sheets. Children are seen playing football nearby, as if dreams are being born from the same soil. After selection in the national football team, Anushka has got Ambedkar Awas, the construction of which has started. Anushka's father Dinesh Munda (45) is disabled.
He used to work as a laborer in the filtration plant Rukka. Two years ago, in an accident, he broke his leg after being crushed by alum. There was no help from the department or the company in the treatment, as a result he was not fit to work. The responsibility of the family rests on mother Rita Devi and elder brother Ashish Kumar. Both of them work as laborers to run the household. Currently, mother, father and brother work as laborers in their under-construction Ambedkar residence.
Daughter reached national platform from village
Anushka's father Dinesh Munda says, Anushka studied till seventh standard in the government school of the village. 18 year old elder brother Ashish works as a labourer. The 13-year-old younger brother studies in class nine in SS +2 high school. Along with studies, Anushka used to go to play football with the youth team.
Seeing his talent, he was taken to the coaching center of Hazaribagh. After this, he showed his sporting talent in places like Dhanbad, Punjab, Haryana, Bhutan, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Bengal, Jamshedpur, Orissa and Nepal. After his brilliant performance in Bengaluru, he was selected in the national football team.
An identity of Ormanjhi's two daughters
Before Anushka, Divani Linda of Chandra, Suduvarti village of Ormanjhi has also been selected in the Indian football team. Divyani's mother is also a laborer and she goes to Ranchi city to work. Both the daughters have got Ambedkar residence from the government after being selected in the national team.
Bricks from the old alabaster house are also being used in the construction of Anushka's house. Symbolic of the journey from struggle to strength, the success of Anushka, who grew up amidst poverty, disease and deprivation, is not just an award but a message to thousands of daughters that talent is not dependent on circumstances. This daughter of Ormanjhi has become the pride of the country today.