[1]About six months after it appeared in print, a news report has brought the light of hope into the life of Mathew Rocha Chacko, a struggling rowing champion from Kainakari of Kuttanad, thanks to DC.
Mr Kaushiq Kodithodika, a Dubai-based software engineer from Kozhikode, has emerged as a good Samaritan, offering him a job as a trainer in his proposed water sports training school for youngsters to be set up at Kozhikode.
DC had carried a story on the front page, highlighting Rocha’s plight and how he continues to be a clay collector at Kainakari. Mr Kaushiq contacted this correspondent via e-mail, expressing interest in employing Rocha as a trainer in his proposed school.
It would be for a private sports club to be set up on the premises of the school. Mr Kaushiq said via e-mail that he was doing the paperwork to launch a school to train youngsters in the sport of rowing and that the job would help Rocha earn a reasonable amount.
“I want to be super clear to him (Rocha) that this is not for charity, but completely respecting his achievements and gives him an opportunity to earn a decent living so he can focus on
the sport and help us bring new talent into this arena,” Mr Kaushiq says.
Mr Kaushiq, who belongs to Feroke of Kozhikode, is passionate about water sports. He genuinely feels that our state has ample opportunities for the development of water sport, and that these opportunities have been thoroughly underused till now. He also requested that the Kerala government help him complete the paperwork soon.
Mr Rocha told DC that this offer was a recognition of his life-long efforts in the field of rowing. “It will be helpful for me because I need to find `14,000 per month to remit interest to money lenders,” he replied.
Mr Rocha, who had represented India in the Asian rowing championship held in Thailand, winning a silver and bronze medal, has beaten the Indian record
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/28rocha-crojpgcropdisplayjpg-609