How much are wrestlers spending daily in the protest in Delhi, cost reason and is it over

How much are wrestlers spending daily in the protest in Delhi, cost reason and is it over

Know the cost of the wrestlers protest and are they over

In a bid to bring attention to their concerns and demands, elite wrestlers in India, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh, and Sakshi Malik, have embarked on a protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in New Delhi.

How much are wrestlers spending daily in the protest in Jantar Mantar, Delhi, cost reason and is it over

However, as the protest continues, the wrestlers are facing a significant financial burden with daily expenses ranging from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh. To keep the movement alive and address the financial strain, the wrestlers have turned to crowdfunding.

Funds dwindle as daily expenses soar during the Wrestlers Protest: Crowdfunding efforts initiated

According to a recent report by the Times of India, the wrestlers’ funds have started to dwindle due to the high expenses incurred daily. In response, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh, and Sakshi Malik initiated multiple crowdfunding campaigns four days ago to sustain the protest. So far, they have collected Rs 6 lakh in cash donations, as they are wary of online fraud and prefer to avoid digital transactions.

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One of the wrestlers involved in the protest explained the daily expenses in detail. The funds are primarily allocated to cater to the needs of the supporters, which range between 800 and 1,000 individuals daily. This includes providing water and food for the protesters.

The wrestler stated, “We spend around Rs 90,000 on water bottles and Rs 60,000 on preparing food three times a day cooked in desi ghee – for our supporters, apart from other miscellaneous expenses. We only use packaged drinking water and hygienically-cooked home food to avoid any chances of stomach infection.”

Support for wrestlers protest comes from within

To alleviate the burden of expenses for the wrestlers and coaches involved in the protest, home-cooked meals are provided by Vinesh’s husband, Somvir Rathee’s family in Delhi. This arrangement ensures that the protesting wrestlers and coaches, totaling 8-10 individuals, receive nutritious food during the protest.

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The process of crowdfunding takes place directly at the protest site, with a senior Indian wrestling coach entrusted with the responsibility of collecting cash donations on behalf of the wrestlers. To maintain transparency, the coach meticulously records the daily collection in a diary.

Strong support from diverse groups fuels Wrestlers’ Protest movement

The support for the protest movement primarily comes from individuals who visit the site to contribute. These include individuals, Khap leaders, farmer unions, students, and members from nearby akhadas in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Remarkably, some individuals have generously donated amounts as high as Rs 51,000, demonstrating their solidarity with the cause.

When the protest movement began on April 23, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh, and Sakshi Malik each contributed Rs 3 lakh to kickstart the protest. Additionally, fellow wrestlers, coaches, referees, and akhadas provided further financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh to support the cause.

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