HT Impact: Khushbir’s family to get a roof as college relents

Acting on HT’s report, dated April 10, which highlighted how Asian Games silver medallist Khushbir Kaur’s family was living in pathetic conditions, the Khalsa College governing council released Rs 5 lakh on Wednesday for the construction of their house.

Acting on HT’s report, dated April 10, which highlighted how Asian Games silver medallist Khushbir Kaur’s family was living in pathetic conditions, the Khalsa College governing council released Rs 5 lakh on Wednesday for the construction of their house.

Khushbir-Kaur-won-silver-in-the-20-km-race-walk-event-at-the-2014-Asian-Games-Getty

The college had announced in October that it would get the champion walker’s house constructed but failed to do so. It has now decided to hand over the sum and let the family get the construction done. Acting on the promise, the family had demolished the house in village Rasulpur Nikka but when the college did not act, they had no option but to live in the cowshed within the premises.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Badal, took note of the issue and asked the district administration to help the family.

Claiming that the college was sincere in its intentions, governing council honorary secretary, Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, said, “We were always committed to help Khushbir ever since she joined our college. We promised to get the house constructed but there were certain coordination issues with the family that led to the controversy. We have decided to hand over the money so that the family can get the construction done.”

College principal, Sukhbir Kaur Mahal, felt the controversy was meaningless. “We faced embarrassment for no reason. We have been supportive of Khushbir, and as far as the house is concerned, it was to be made at the current location. The family got the structure demolished in March and did not inform us. Several times our officials and the contractor went there but the family was unclear about the design. Efforts were made by the college but somehow things did not work out.”

Harjit Kaur, Khushbir’s sister, expressed satisfaction at the development. “Since the college has announced that the money will be transferred to Khushbir’s account, we are satisfied. Even Khushbir (she is currently training in Portugal) told me that she was satisfied with the decision.”