Former Indian international footballer Ratan Singh is passing through dire financial distress for the last three months, his state started burning following the violation between two tribes. More than 150 people have already died, several have been injured, and several properties have been destroyed by fire since this ethnic violence commenced on 3rd May. 

Ratan Singh who represented senior India in the World Cup qualifiers in 2001-02 was the country's one of the premier club footballers. He donned the shirts of East Bengal, Dempo, Churchill Brothers, and Mohammedan Sporting in 2005, his last year in Kolkata football. 

He continued playing in Manipur for the next years before starting his coaching career in 2010. In the last 13 years, Ratan, now 52, also acquired C and B-license coaching degrees and after guiding a couple of Manipur Premier teams, Ratan was coaching Klasa FC. Along with his wife and mother, Ratan has a son and a daughter who are studying in schools. Ratan's wife was also a primary school teacher. 

The defender while speaking over the phone on Saturday morning said, "The average payment Manipur premier clubs make is generally between Rs 2 and Rs 3 lakh per season. Additionally, my wife is a school teacher. So, we two could manage to survive our five-member family. But after the violation started and a complete lockdown, going on for the last three months the situation has been grave. All the deposit money we had has almost been spent. I am thankful to some of my friends who have helped during the phase. Otherwise, it was not possible for us to survive."

Naushad Musa, Ratan's teammate in Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal has already come forward with some financial assistance. Significantly, the former Indian international who has joined North-East United as a coach, is also trying to bring Ratan Singh as a coach in the club's youth development program. 

Amitava Ghosh, another former prominent footballer of Bengal has also gathered around Rs 30 thousand and sent it to Ratan. He commented on the issue, "As a former footballer I do not want his family, especially his children become starved. But it would have been more sustainable for him if the clubs Ratan had represented would have come forward at least."

Incidentally, Ratan applied for a primary teacher's job under the state education ministry in 2010. He revealed, "There were 20 seats vacant for the job. But state government recruited only three applicants. So, all other applicants including me moved to the court and the case is going on. Recently, as a part of development, I heard that the remaining 17 seats will soon be filled. But unfortunately, the violence began and now it looks again extremely uncertain."