THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Now you can work till 70…again you should train in hockey…also play hockey,” Sports Minister E P Jayarajan told former Indian hockey player V D Shakunthala (62), handing over to her the government order appointing her as a regular employee of Rajiv Gandhi Sports Medicine Centre. She was given the job, taking into account her unparalleled contribution to Indian Sports.

When the government job came calling after 30 decades’ long wait, Shakunthala’s eyes welled up with tears of joy.

What led to this moment was the Kerala Kaumudi report (Feb 15, 2014) on her ill-fated life under the title ‘Mun hockey tharam Palayam markettil Naranga Vilkkunnu’ (Former hockey star selling lemon at Palayam market). The outer world came to know about her plight only through this report.

Most of the players who had played with her managed to get job long before but Shakunthala hadn’t got any mercy from authorities. She had been going up and down the Sports Council Office with her medals and certificates for the past 30 years, but in vain.

Finally, seeing the report, the then Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan gave her part-time sweeper’s job in Rajiv Gandhi Sports Medicine Centre. Pinarayi government recently made her job permanent.

It was on Friday morning at 11, Shakunthala reached the minister’s office and received the order. The minister also assured that the government will build a house in the 3.5 cent government land allotted to her.