Help pours in for victim’s family

BATHINDA: Even as the petition, in which the wife of a man, who suffered complete paralysis after his two-wheeler collided with stray cattle, has sought compensation of Rs 30 lakh, is pending with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, financial relief of Rs 1 lakh was offered by a city resident on Saturday.

The founder of Royal Deep Foundation (NGO), Jaswinder Singh, hands over a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to the stray cattle victim’s family in Bathinda on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 14

Even as the petition, in which the wife of a man, who suffered complete paralysis after his two-wheeler collided with stray cattle, has sought compensation of Rs 30 lakh, is pending with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, financial relief of Rs 1 lakh was offered by a city resident on Saturday.

A day after Bathinda Tribune carried a news report ‘Daughter gives up hockey dream for father’s treatment’, a city resident, Jaswinder Singh, who is a contractor by profession, has extended the help to the distressed family.

Jaswinder Singh, who is also the founder of Royal Deep Foundation (NGO), working to uplift sports in the district, was moved by the circumstances of the family.

While handing over a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to the wife and daughter of the victim, he said, “It would be unfortunate for a sportsperson, who has played at the national level, to call it quits due to pressing conditions of her family. In future, we are planning to bear all education expenses for the younger daughter of the victim and try to make arrangements for a permanent job for the elder daughter.”

With a glint of happiness in her eyes, Sukhwinder, wife of the victim, said, “It is huge relief for us. We are already burdened under debt but Rs 1 lakh is a substantial amount and we are really grateful for this. It will help us continue proper treatment of my husband in future.”

After taking note of the news report, Rajinder Singh Raonte, a friend of the contractor, had visited the family at Dhobiana Basti. He was appalled to see their circumstances. He then discussed it with his friend Jaswinder, who decided to donate the money.

Ramesh Kumar (40), a resident of Dhobiana Basti, owned a stationary shop near the Cantonment area. He met with an accident and sustained grievous injury on his head and other body parts, rendering him bed-ridden in 2016.

To bear household expenses, his daughter Archna had to give up the dream to play for the national hockey team and discontinue her studies after graduation.

She has represented the state in the National School Games (SGFI) and won dozens of medals in school and state-level championships.