A former employee of Indian Railways, Subhash Mantri, has been working for the differently-abled people since 1973. In 1982, he started the Pune District Paralympic All Games Association. Being an athlete himself, Mantri is eager to encourage the differently-abled to participate in sports and give a new outlook to life.
He is working in association with Shridhar Akhade, a differently-abled person and winner of Chhatrapati Award. Under their leadership, the association members have won about 22 Chhatrapati Awards in the last 30 years. Mantri tells Kiran Dahitule about the initiatives and achievements of the differently-abled sportspersons in Pune.
Please tell us about Pune Paralympic All Games Association.
Pune Paralympic All Games Association is an organisation for differently-abled people who are trained to participate in various gaming events. These sportspersons play all types of games including shot put, javelin throw and archery among others. In fact, last year we started the Pune Paralympic Archery Association where we are focusing on developing international-level archers from Pune.
What opportunities you association provide to the differently-abled people?
We have organised various state-level sports meet for the disabled people and encouraged them to participate in the state, national and international games.
I have also been coaching disabled people and as a result, about 22 people have been awarded Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award by the Maharashtra government. Under my leadership, eight people represented India at international events.
After making a bright career in sports, some got lucrative government jobs, while others got help from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to set up a stall or shop. For example, Prakash Chavan is working at the army exchange as a telephone operator and Sushila Jadhav has been selected to work in PMC.
What is the kind of support that is extended by other organisations and how do you manage the funds required for expensive sports like archery?
Till date, we have not received any kind of sponsorship from any organisation; we manage our funds on our own. However, we are seeking financial help, but not many people are aware about our organisation. Due to our limitations, we have not been able to create a website or go out in the field and promote our organisation.
Though most of the members are not from a well-to-do financial background, we get the equipment for the sports activities from other members who can support the cause. There are
nine-national level sportsmen and an international archer from our organisation who have represented Pune in various competitions.
How can the differently-abled people reach out to you if they wish to pursue a sport and be trained?
We do not have any website, but people can definitely call me or Shridhar Akhade and enroll for any of the sports training. People can call me on 9823224855 or Shridhar Akhade, general secretary, on 9922488372.
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