Daughter gives up hockey dreams for father’s treatment

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 12

The family members of a man, who suffered complete paralysis after his motorcycle collided with stray cattle near the Cantonment in September 2016, are finding it difficult to make both ends meet.

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

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda to file a reply till August 18 in a petition in which the wife of the victim had sought compensation of Rs 30 lakh.

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.

He cannot speak or identify his family members since then. Kumar, who has 90 per cent disability, was the lone bread winner of the house.

The victim’s elder daughter, Archna, was in BA first year student, who started doing a part time job to sustain her family.

She is a national level hockey player. She represented the state in the National School Games (SGFI) and has won dozens of medals in the school and state level championships.

Her younger sister also played hockey at the national level, who had to miss out on an international tour owing to the poor financial condition of her family.

Exuding fighting spirit of a sportsperson in her eyes, Archna said, “Left with barely any choice, I had to give up the dream to play for the country and discontinue my studies this year. After appearing for dozens of interviews recently, I have secured a full time job in a marketing firm. Though the salary is low, it will still help my family.”

The victim’s wife and daughter lift him from bed every day to take him for physiotherapy sessions at a centre near Bibi Wala Chowk.

Archna said, “I take my father for physiotherapy sessions. Paying Rs 200 for auto-rickshaw everyday is unaffordable. The government must provide financial help to us at least to bear medical expenses for my father. My brother Naresh Kumar has completed his secondary education this year. He is also searching for work. My sister Mitali is in Class X. We want that at least she must pursue her studies.”

Tears trickled down from the eyes of victim’s mother Rukmani Devi when her granddaughter started lifting her father from the bed for a physiotherapy session.

Sukhwinder, the wife of the victim, said, “To bear medical expenses for my husband’s treatment, we had to put our house as collateral for Rs 5 lakh. We have already spent Rs 7 lakh on his treatment and got him treated at various places, but he has not recovered physically or mentally. We want that the government must provide compensation to us so that we can at least get our house freed from the bond. My husband’s younger brother and other acquaintances assisted us financially.”