Chandigarh, December 13: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh from his relief fund to enable noted boxer Kaur Singh to repay the loan he had taken to meet his medical expenses.
While releasing the amount from CM’s Relief Fund, Captain Amarinder said, in a press statement here on Wednesday, that he learnt about the legendary boxer’s financial plight from media reports and issued the necessary instructions for his relief immediately.
Expressing sorrow at the reports of the boxer’s ill-health, Captain Amarinder wished Kaur Singh a speedy recovery, with long and healthy life.
The Chief Minister, who has often asserted his commitment to the promotion of sports in the state, said it was sad to hear of a sportsperson of such repute being forced to live in such pitiable conditions. His government, said Captain Amarinder, would do everything possible to help out Kaur Singh, whose contribution to Indian boxing remains unparalleled.
This is not the first time the Chief Minister has intervened personally to help Punjab’s talented masters. In May this year, he had announced financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakh for eminent Punjabi playwright and litterateur Ajmer Aulakh later succumbed to cancer. He had also come out with a financial reward and had provided a DSP position to well-known woman cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, after his scintillating performance in ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in July.
In July itself, the Chief Minister had also personally intervened to direct the Punjabi University Patiala vice chancellor to immediately sanction the necessary funds to enable its archers’ team to participate in the World University Games 2017 in China.
The Chief Minister has also, on several occasions, come to the rescue of ordinary citizens of the state through his Relief Fund. In July, responding swiftly to a letter from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Capt Amarinder Singh had sanctioned a sum of Rs. 3,56,700 on humanitarian grounds, to facilitate the return of a Gurdaspur resident from Sharjah. The amount has been released against the pending wages of Vikram Singh, who refused to leave a ship along with five other Indian nationals on account of the non-payment of their salaries for several months.