Cycling champion living in poverty

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 14

A 19-year-old state cycling champion, Baljit Kaur, who has won four gold, two silver and three bronze medals and also competed at the national level, has been forced to transplant paddy along with her mother to earn a living.

Kaur lives in a rented accommodation with her mother and younger brother, who works in a private company. Her father died in 2016. Despite writing repeatedly to officials, she has not received any financial help from the government.

“My mother worked as a maid to arrange money for my diet. During training session, I used to cross this road cycling. Little did I know at that time that I would have to transplant paddy in the fields along the very road to make ends meet” said Kaur, standing in a group of labourers in a field at Hareri village of the district.

No help from government

I haven’t received any financial help from the state government. I have visited various offices and met many NGOs, the only thing they offer is assurance. —Baljit Kaur, State cycling champion

She said whenever she won any competition, she received numerous calls from NGOs and officials, assuring her all help. But the assistance never came. Pursuing bachelor of arts, she prepares for her exams during night.

Her mother Parmjit Kaur said after the outbreak of Covid-19, she lost her job as maid and with that whatever meagre income she was earning. “The Punjab Government should not make false claims about promotion of sports in the state. Authorities have failed to offer any help even to a state champion like Baljit,” she said.

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