You maybe an international medal-winner, but if you happen to hail from a faraway state, you are likely to be running from pillar to post just to get your due reward. Going by what ace Indian women archer Chekrovolu Swuro faced, this seems only a matter of fact.

Swuro, who hails from Nagaland and is employed with Nagaland Police, received a cheque of Rs 1.75 lakh on June 30, 2006, from the Sports Ministry for her performance in the Asian Archery Championships and the Golden Arrow European Grand Prix the previous year. Swuro bagged a bronze in the Asian Championships and a silver medal in the Golden Arrow GP.

Incidentally, the day she received the cheque was also the last day of the validity period of the cheque.

In other words, the cheque took that many months to reach Kohima, capital of Nagaland, from Delhi. And since the validity period of the cheque had expired by the time she submitted it, the money couldn’t be transferred to Swuro’s account.

If you had been wondering why every UPSC, SSC, Railways or Banking Board recruitment adverts come with a note that candidates from the North-east, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep can submit their forms 15 or 20 days after their counterparts from the rest of India, now you know. Probably this deadline needs extension.

When Swuro brought this lapse to the notice of the government, it promised to hand her a fresh cheque without delay.

Well, that was in July 2006. A year has passed, and Swuro is yet to get a fresh cheque, despite repeated reminders to the people in the Ministry.

... contd.