Rourkela admin extends help to bodybuilder

ROURKELA: Santosh Jena, 32, a bodybuilder and three time Mr Odisha title holder, who was suffering due to lack of funds for his treatment after being infected with tuberculosis, got a respite here after district administration came to his rescue. He has been admitted to Hi-Tech Medical College & Hospital, Rourkela, at the instance of district administration and his treatment is being done there for free.Besides, the administration has also released an amount of Rs 10,000 to his family since the bodybuilder was the only breadwinner of the family.
According to an official source, Santosh, a resident of Abhiram Palli of Rourkela city, had taken up bodybuilding during his teenage and gone on to excel in this sport. His father Surendra Jena was a daily wage labourer and had no income to support Santosh’s sporting activity. That, however, did not come in the way as Santosh pursued his dream and went on to win Mr Odisha title for three consecutive times from 2009. He also won Mr India (Junior) title during this period. Of late, he had started guiding budding bodybuilders.
His family said about a year back, he had developed some health issues and was regularly falling sick. Due to his poor financial condition, he was avoiding his health check-up in a good hospital. The matter came to notice of a voluntary organisation named Akhi. With the initiative of members of Akhi, his check-up was done in a hospital where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. But, his treatment could not proceed due to paucity of funds. Although members of Akhi and members of Rourkela Physiculture Association had contributed some funds, that was not enough for his treatment. A report on the plight of the former Mr Odisha was carried in TOI in its September 19 edition.
Following publication of report in TOI, the district administration swung into action. Rourkela ADM Aboli Sunil Narwane contacted Santosh and offered all support from district administration. “He wanted to be treated at Rourkela only, for which we have arranged his treatment in Hi-Tech Medical College & Hospital, Rourkela,” said Narwane. “Since, he was only earning member of his family, we have sanctioned Rs 10,000 to his family from Red Cross fund,” Narwane said.