Mary’s plight moves many

PUNE, July 16: For many years, Mary Philip, widow of hockey Olympian Joe Philips, has not received any visitors. Today that has changed. ...

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PUNE, July 16: For many years, Mary Philip, widow of hockey Olympian Joe Philips, has not received any visitors. Today that has changed. The transformation has come about within a week of The Indian Express carrying a report on the sorry state the 74-year-old lady was in — she had to wash utensils in the neighbourhood to eke out a living.

The response from people from all walks of life has been tremendous. They trek to her house at 487/2, Irani Chawl, Old Bazaar, Khadki. “Many people have given us money,” said Mary, who has once again became a household name in Khadki.

The rusted iron frame-bureaucracy — the directorate of sports and youth affairs — for once has moved her file at a pace unusual.

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“Although there are 16 similar cases to be decided at a meeting later this month, we have got a positive response from the State Government for her to get the honorary pension in the sports international quota,” said director Ashwani Kumar.

The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Maharashtra has received a sanction order from the government to forward her a monthly pension of Rs 1000 with effect from this month.

The State Government disburses Rs 1,000 for international and Rs 800 for national sportspersons as a monthly pension. “We are forwarding this case to the Sports Authority of India so that she gets the pension (Rs 2,000) from them as well, added Ashwani Kumar.

Although many individuals have come forward to help Mary, response from the sports fraternity in the city has been lukewarm, except for former Indian women’s captain Namrata Shah Nee Nazleen Madaraswala who has promised financial assistance to Mary Philips.

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Vinod Dua, managing director of Omnicure Medicaments Pvt Ltd has assured a monthly contribution of Rs 1000 for the lady. “I shall go to her place in person tomorrow and hand over the cash,” said Dua.

In another move, the Priyardarshini School, Bhosari felicitated Mary and the chairman of the school Inderman Singh handed over a cheque of Rs 700 for this month, and assured the same amount every month.

There are many promises in the pipeline from various associations. One association is looking forward to organising an exhibition match of Indian Hockey XI and the State team to raise funds.

And with the country’s sports fraternity planning a quick relief to the hockey hero’s unsung wife, there seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel for Mary Philips.