Shatru asks Nitish for proper employment of woman footballer

Moved by the plight of woman football player Madhu Kumari, who is living in poverty, BJP Lok Sabha member and film actor Shatrughan Sinha has written to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar urging him to arrange employment for her.

"It is appalling that Madhu who represented the Indian team from 1999 to 2007 is living in penury and hardship," the actor turned politician, said in a letter to Kumar.

He demanded that the State government ensured that Madhu got proper employment and received the benefits of the endowment fund as financial assistance.

The former union minister also sent a cheque of Rs21,000 to the chief minister as contribution.

He urged both the Centre and State government to address the plight of the 28-year-old former football vice-captain.

Speaking about the office of president Pratibha Patil recently seeking reports from her about her financial condition, Madhu, the sister of a roadside tea-stall owner here had said "I am sure that the president is taking personal interest. I will definitely get a job at Central or State level and will be able to pursue my career."

Madhu, a regular member of the women's football team since 1999 was the vice-captain of the team that toured Iran in 2007.