IMPHAL, November 18: Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom has always been an inspiration for the youths and women of the state and the country.
The diminutive champion boxer’s icon status amongst the youths and woman of the country received a major boost with the Election Commission of India announcing the Olympic medallist as its first woman ‘National Icon’.
MC Mary Kom is now an official ‘Icon” of the Election Commission of India.
Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and captain of the Indian Cricket team MS Dhoni are the only previous national icons of the ECI.
It is learnt that the star boxer will work to spread election awareness amongst the youths and the women of the country.
Mary Kom’s work will mainly consist of encouraging the women and youth section for Voter registration, spreading awareness on benefits of the Electors Photo Identity Card, EPIC, and the need for a free and fair election in the country.
Agency adds: In a generous gesture towards encouraging athletes who are facing acute funds constraint in their endeavours, Olympics bronze medalist MC Mary Kom will give financial assistance to HIV positive bodybuilder Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh, who has recently bagged “Mr South Asia” title.
Pradip (43), who is facing acute financial shortage to procure nutritional diet, is competing in the 4th Mr World Championship scheduled to be held in Bangkok in the first week of December. He spends about Rs 40,000 in procuring foreign nutritional diet every month.
The diminutive muscleman, who is on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (Art), has suffered financial breakdown after Manipur State Aids Control Society (Macs) stopped extending his nutritional aid of Rs 8,000 a month since June this year. Earlier, Macs extended the amount after appointing him as its brand ambassador.
Another setback for Pradip was the government`s failure to appoint him as a regular employee in the youth affairs and sports department despite tall promises made by a minister in 2009. “We are really proud of him (Pradip) for his extraordinary performance in Mr South Asia title,” Mary told this reporter.
“At the same time, we are not happy with the acute financial suffering being faced by him for which we have decided to extend a certain amount of money to him as a token of encouragement to at least meet a small part of his requirement towards his participation in the forthcoming Mr World contest in Bangkok,” the five-time world boxing champion said.
Mary said the amount would be handed over to Pradip on Tuesday during a formal function in Imphal. “I`m really happy with the kind gesture being extended by sister Mary Kom. Whatever amount to be given to me is priceless,” said Pradipkumar.
“Though the government has neglected me, there are many kind-hearted people like Mary and other individuals and groups. I`ll try my best to earn laurels from the ensuing Bangkok competition and such prize would be my return to the people of Manipur who wholeheartedly encourage me,” Pradip said emotionally.
Before taking part in the 9th Mr South Asia Body Building Championship, 2012, held at Ludhiana in November first week, members of Self Support Group (SSG), a body formed by HIV positive widows of the state, carried out a donation campaign and handed over Rs 90,000 to Pradip.
A local civil body christened “Joint Brothers` Group” also donated him Rs 1.5 lakh for his cause.
A resident of Khamnam Leirak in Imphal West , Pradip revealed his status after bagging senior Mr Manipur title in December, 2007.