Dhanbad (Jharkhand): Ajay Kumar Paswan, a national para-athlete who represented the state and nation in the National Para Athletics Championship for a decade in 100m, 200m and 400m is struggling to make ends meet. Having won over a dozen medals in para-athletics, the specially-abled athlete is today helpless stricken by poverty and hunger. Unable to afford Rs 5000, he missed out from participating in an International Championship. Helpless, the athlete who is forced to sell his medals to make ends meet has now turned to the government seeking financial assistance.
Even though the government had made big announcements to provide all possible assistance to sportspersons and raise their standard of living. The reality on the ground level is totally different and the national para-athlete Ajay Paswan is a living example of this. His family was not even allocated a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Ajay hails from a Dalit family and is the son of Yamuna Paswan, a resident of Malkera Dakshin Panchayat in Baghmara block of Dhanbad, who ekes out a living by supplying water to households in the locality. Now, Ajay despite being physically challenged is supporting his father in distributing water as their financial condition is bad and also has the responsibility to look after his four sisters.
In the year 2015, he was selected for an international championship in Belarus. To participate in the championship on behalf of the association, a decree was issued to athletes that they need to bear the expenses themselves. Ajay given his financial troubles somehow got his passport but was unable to arrange Rs 5000 towards VISA charges. As a result, he had to drop out from the International Championship and his dreams were dashed, as he was confident that he would bring laurels to the country and the state by winning a medal in the competition.
Ajay's sister speaking to ETV Bharat has also appealed to the government for help, saying that their father earns a little and it is difficult to run the family. Hence, she has requested the government to provide financial assistance and a job to her brother. So that Ajay, who brought glory to Jharkhand, can lead a life of honour and the condition of the family improves, she says.
