Dilraj Kaur is India’s first international level female para shooter. This 34-year-old woman from Uttarakhand has over 15 years of experience as a national and international level para shooter. Dilraj Kaur is the winner of over 30 national-level medals, including gold at this year’s 20th Uttarakhand State Shooting Competition. Kaur was considered India’s best para air pistol shooter at one point. But today, you’d find her selling chips with her mother at a roadside kiosk in Dehradun. So, how did India’s pride end up struggling to earn a living? What can we do to help her? Well, read on to find out.
India’s Talented Para Shooter Dilraj Kaur Sells Chips To Clear Debts
Dilraj Kaur stays in a rented apartment with her mother, Gurbeet in Dehradun. She revealed to India Today, “Our financial state is very bad which is the reason why we are being forced to sell biscuits and chips to make ends meet.” Her father who was undergoing an expensive dialysis process died in 2019. Dilraj’s brother then passed away this February. He fell off from a building and hurt his head. The family spent over ₹1 crore on his treatment, but alas he succumbed to his injuries. Now, Dilraj and her mother are neck-deep in debt left with nothing. She stated to TOI that neither the people of the Uttarakhand sports fraternity nor politicians have come forward to help her.
#Uttarakhand: Para-shooter Dilraj Kaur is forced to sell snacks near a park in Dehradun to make ends meet.
"I started shooting in 2004 and won 28 gold, 8 silver and 3 bronze medals on the national level. I have also participated in international games," she said (ANI) pic.twitter.com/lRWvQfDC7l
— NDTV (@ndtv) June 23, 2021
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She Seeks A Government Job On Sports Quota Basis
To clear their massive debts and earn their bread and butter, the duo started selling chips and biscuit packets near their home in Govindgarh. But her mother, Gurbeet suggested they sell near the centrally located, Gandhi Park. Listening to her story, many citizens offered to help her get back on her feet. But Dilraj Kaur doesn’t want money from both the citizens and the government. She is a certified coach with a law degree. All she wants is a government job. States like Haryana and Rajasthan provide Grade B jobs to their athletes.
Dilraj wishes Uttarakhand also does the same. While she has already appealed for a job on the basis of a sports quota, she hasn’t received any reply. The office of the Uttarakhand sports minister informed, she hasn’t come to them yet. They revealed that once the matter reaches them, they will address her concerns. While Dilraj doesn’t want donations, we can certainly ensure this story goes viral and reaches the ears of authorities, who can then give her the job she deserves.