Wonder kid Budhia is now a school drop out

Six-year-old child marathon sensation Budhia Singh is now a school drop out like many of his age at Salia Sahi, the biggest slum in Bhubaneswar.

Budhia has stopped attending school since more than a fortnight, said J K Mohanty, principal of the BJEM (Buxi Jagabandhu English Medium) School in Bhubaneswar.

Budhia, popular among the students and teachers, was studying in the upper nursery class. He was an inspiration for other children at the school, the principal said, adding that the school authorities wanted him to continue studies.

Budhia's mother Sukanti said the distance to the school, situated at the other end of the city, is too long and she could not take the kid daily there as she is the only bread earner in the family.

"I will lose the entire day, if I take him to school. I am the only earning member of the family, I need to work to buy food for my four children, including Budhia," she said.

The wonder kid, who had set a record by running a distance of 65 km at a stretch from Puri to Bhubaneswar in 2005, said he would like to continue his studies.

"I miss my school and friends. I wish to attend the classes but no one takes me there," the boy told PTI.

Budhia had stopped going to school ever since he was separated from his trainer Biranchi Das in August after his mother lodged an FIR saying he had tortured the boy.

When contacted, Das said he had sent Budhia's school bag, water bottle and other study materials to his mother.

"What more can I do. His mother had taken the child away from my custody after making false allegations against me. I have already spent four days in jail for this," he said, while wishing the child a bright future.

According to Budhia's class teacher Sheela Nayak, he has the potential to excel in studies too.

"It is a fact that Budhia is fickle like many other kids. But he can excel in studies, if given proper attention," she said.

"We are still unsure whether the child will stay with us or go to the government's custody. Therefore, we are unable to send him to any school," said Budhia's present mentor Anjan Nath.

"As Budhia has been put in a difficult situation, his childhood as well as his studies suffer," said child right activist Mahendra Parida.