National Wushu champion Shiksha working as farm labourer to make ends meet

Sunit Dhawan

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Tribune News Service

Indergarh (Rohtak), July 11

Haryana Government’s slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ appears hollow as one sees Shiksha, a 22-year-old Scheduled Caste girl of Indergarh village in Rohtak district, working as a farm labourer to support her family.

A national champion in Wushu and Kickboxing, Shiksha is pursuing BSc (Sports Science) course at Maharani Kishori Jat Kanya Mahavidyala in Rohtak.

Shiksha has won two gold medals and a bronze medal in All-India Inter-University Kickboxing championships, two silver medals in All-India Inter-University Wushu championships and 24 gold medals in state Wushu championships.

However, she has not got any financial aid or support from the government and has to toil hard to earn livelihood for her family.

“I have not got any financial support or diet allowance from the government. I had applied for a job with the ITBP under sports quota, but my application was rejected. I want to represent my country at the international level, but I am not able to practice as I have to work and earn money for our sustenance,” Shiksha said while talking to The Tribune at her village today.

Shiksha, who was busy sowing paddy, said she has been engaged as a farm labourer due to the shortage of migrant labourers owing to lockdown. She gets Rs 200-300 per day, depending on the work done by her.

Her parents Pyare Lal and Raj Devi also work as casual labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) Scheme to make the ends meet.

When contacted, District Sports Officer Sukhbir Singh said he would get the matter examined and get the needful done.

“She should have got cash awards owing to her performance in the sports championships. I will look into the matter and ensure that she gets her dues,” he stated.