Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today appeared helpless at the future of two members of India's Under-13 football team and nudged two senior government officials "to do something" to brighten up their careers.
"They are international footballers (sic)!" asked Ramesh surprisingly after co-coach of the Yuwa football team, Sandeep Chettri, introduced him to Shivani Toppo and Manisha Tirkey who represented India in an Under-13 football tournament in Sri Lanka.
"They have represented India, and what are your future plans to nurture their talent?" asked Ramesh and suggested Chettri to arrange "special camps" for them.
"Let Franz (Gastler) come," replied Chettri at Ormanjhi on the outskirts of the city.
The girls are trained by American Franz Gastler.
"'My Yuva India' will bring more laurels in future," a beaming 13-year-old Rinki Kumar said even as Chettri introduced the team as 'Yuwa' to the minister.
Moved by the condition of the lean and hungry looking girls numbering over a dozen, the Union Rural Development Minister asked them whether they were getting regular midday meals in schools.
But he was speechless, when half of them said, "We don't get midday meals."
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Vinay Choubey intervened saying those not getting midday meals are reading in private schools, which don't come under the government's scheme.
The Yuwa team girls, who finished third in a tournament in Spain in July, giggled when Ramesh asked them how they matched the physically superior European teams.
But the girls quietly showed the minister and others their dribbling skills and back heal passes that fetched them the third position among 10 teams in the Gasteiz U-14 girls' football tournament played in Spain in July.
