CHANDIGARH:
Rajbir Singh
, 17, from Ludhiana, got a hero's welcome when he landed in Chandigarh after winning two gold medals in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in the US. But the fame did not bring any financial support.
A few months later, Rajbir began working with his father as a daily-wage labourer. He battled 'below average intellectual and adaptive functioning' to win the 1-km and 2-km cycling events in
Los Angeles
. In 2015, Rajbir was promised Rs 15 lakh by the then Punjab government for his achievements. Now, Rajbir pushes wheelchairs and does odd jobs at an NGO.
The then CM
Parkash Singh Badal honoured him and announced an additional prize money Rs 1 lakh. However, his father
Balbir Singh claims that he received a cheque of just Rs 50,000 after a struggle since they refused to pay a bribe to get the money, Balbir told TOI .
Rajbir was given an additional Rs 10 lakh by the Union government but the amount has not matured and is in form of bonds.
Punjab chief minister Captain
Amarinder Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral told TOI, "We are not aware of this case as it is from before we took charge of the government. However, we will do whatever is needed to help Punjab's sportsmen, including Rajbir, once we get details."
"My son is obviously is special to me. He feels dejected due to the indifference of the authorities. No one should be made to feel like this," said Balbir, who now lives with his family of four in a nine feet by five feet tattered house.
In May, Gurpreet Singh, founder of NGO Manukhta Di Sewa came to know about Rajbir's tale and decided to help him. "When I saw him, I couldn't believe my eyes. How can an Olympian can be humiliated to this extent? He was earning Rs 5,000 a month to support his family," said Gurpreet. Gurpreet took him to his NGO wing in village
Baran Hara
where Rajbir did sewa (work) of the elderly for a few hours. Gurpreet even gave him a cycle and took care of his medicines and diet.
Gurpreet even approached the local deputy commissioner but his requests fell on deaf ears. "I went to his coach and sports authorities in Ludhiana but no one paid any heed to my requests," he added. Rajbir could not talk to TOI due to his ongoing treatment and impairment.
Gurpreet's help came like a straw to the dipping career to Rajbir and his family. Balbir initially mistook Gurpreet for a government official and readily accepted his aid. When he came to know that Gurpreet was doing it out of his own will, Balbir and Rajbir were in tears.
"He (Gurpreet) is a godsend. When Rajbir won gold medals I thought our bad days were over but I cannot comprehend why we had to go through such a terrible phase in the past two years," said Balbir.
"They (Rajbir and his father) have not even completed primary schooling. Even I don't know what to do with these government documents (referring to the Rs 10 lakh bonds). I hope the child gets his due and is back on track," said Gurpreet. Rajbir now pushes wheelchairs and does odd jobs at the NGO. "At least now he is not a labourer like me," said Balbir with a heavy heart.
Abject poverty has halted Rajbir's training, since the family has barely any money for food. And so, cycling, which was once a passion for Rajbir, is now only a thing of the past.