These 84 future P T Ushas or Anju Bobby Georges had a big dream of making records in the national-level athletics meet at Howrah in West Bengal. But all their dreams were dashed the moment they started their journey to the venue, courtesy Education department of Karnataka.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Zain, father of Zejah, a student of Rosario High School in Mangalore, said the children who left Bangalore on Friday night were dumped in a general compartment of the train. Some lucky students found seats and adjusted with the others by allowing them to sit on their lap.
Some who didn’t get seats stood all the way while a few squat on the floor. Sleeping during the two nights on the train has been veritably been in the sitting posture.
They slept on the floor by spreading the bedsheets. “The officials did not inform the students on the reservation till the end. When the students confronted with the officials, they just said: “You either go or stay back,” he said.
He said the students reached their destination on Sunday afternoon and the meet commenced from Monday. “Without proper rest and peace of mind, how can they perform better,” he asks. 
Speaking to Deccan Herald from Howrah over phone, Zejah said: “We travelled in a pathetic condition. The Under-14 team had suffered lot than us. They were standing. None of us slept properly in the night. We are not used to this kind of hardship till now.
With this treatment, what performance do they expect from the students. We were given breakfast and lunch together at 11 O’ clock in the morning on Saturday.”
When Kerala education department could book two coaches attached to Shalimar Express, why could not the State government do so, asks Mr Zain.
“The treatment meted on the children make us feel why we sent these children to the meet. We parents only could have contributed and made better arrangement for the children to go and take part in the meet,” he added.
He said the selection was made two months ago. The department had enough time to reserve the seats for the children. Atleast now the department should stop harassing the children in this manner. When the parents contacted DDPI in Mangalore, he just expressed shock over the incident and informed his counterpart in Bangalore to take care of the children from DK district.
Kushalappa, father of another athlete Jecintha from Pragathi School, Kaniyooru said “it was such a pathetic condition. Such a situation should not be meted even by our enemy. The authorities have collected money one month ago for reservation.”
To a query on whether they have reservation for return trip, the athletes said they are not aware.