Bhuwaneshwar: A three and a half year old boy, Budhia, who shot to limelight after running long distances without tiring, is under controversy.
Doctors, the sports minister of Orissa and even Budhias mother are quite apprehensive of Budhia's health and feel that he is being commercially exploited.
Almost every alternate day local newspapers and channels in Orissa carry the story of the boy from Bhubaneswar and his amazing running prowess.
Lured by this media attention various organizations and corporate houses in Orissa invite Budhia, which guarantees free publicity for them.
Last week Budhia was made to run from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar, a distance of 35 km and then a couple of days later he was made to run from Puri to Bhubaneswar, a distance of 60 km.
Sports minister, Orissa Debashis Nayak says, "If this talented kid is exploited like this government will definitely intervene."
Orissa Government is also giving a monthly stipend of Rs 500 to Budhia and is even contemplating to admit him in Bhubaneswar's SOS village.
Veteran athlete P T Usha in her recent visit to Orissa was also concerned about Budhia.
Even doctors fear that over stressing a kid like this may cause some fatal problems.
Bhudia used to live in a slum with his mother until his coach spotted his talent and brought Budhia with him to his Judo association.
His mother was initially happy to see the success of Budhia. But now even she is worried over her child?s over stressing for quick publicity.
She says, "If he is made to run like this he may face problem. Then who will take the blame?"
However Budhia's coach has refuted all such allegations over phone.
He says that Budhia is under the constant supervision of doctor's and that he has never tried to make money out of Budhias celebrity status.
A year back his mother sold Budhia to a man for Rs 800 due to acute poverty.
Now that Budhia has shot to lime light her mother can dream of a decent life for her son but never at the cost of threat to his life.
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