SANITARY WORKER Rajesh Shukraware is among the five players selected to represent India in the Asian Powerlifting Championship in South Korea beginning May 1. But he might just not make it to the event for want of money.
The poor man has been asked to arrange Rs 66,000, which, he cannot afford with his meagre salary he gets as a contingency sanitary worker in the MPRTC. He hopes that someone would show the kind of generosity the State Bank of Indore showed to Anuya Lonkar, a woman powerlifter who was placed in the similar predicament recently.
Till now, however, all his efforts to collect the requisite amount have failed to bear fruits. “I met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sports Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia but got nothing but assurances.” He can’t afford to rely on assurances as time is running out for him.
He has to report on April 20 in New Delhi with the required amount. A desperate Rajesh virtually begged in New Market on Saturday and managed to collect Rs 2,000. Rajesh who have won 15 medals in various national championships, including four gold medals, said he has been working hard for the Asian Championship but the non-cooperative attitude of the Sports department and the association is putting paid to his efforts.
However, he expressed gratitude to Dilip Suryavanshi of CI Builders and his coach Jitendra Jaisawal for arranging Rs 20,000. “But this is not enough,” he wryly smiled.
{{/usCountry}}However, he expressed gratitude to Dilip Suryavanshi of CI Builders and his coach Jitendra Jaisawal for arranging Rs 20,000. “But this is not enough,” he wryly smiled.
{{/usCountry}}“If Govt fails to support me, I’ll borrow money from open market,” he said.