Baljit’s reaction upsets Sports Ministry
M.S.Unnikrishnan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 15
The Sports Ministry was upset and shocked at the reported statement of Indian hockey team goalkeeper Baljit Singh that his treatment was not full looked after by the Minister after he severely damaged his left eye when a golf ball hit him during a practice session at Pune a few months ago. Reacting strongly to Baljit’s purported insinuation, a top official of the Sports Ministry said but for Sports Minister Dr M.S.Gill’s personal intervention, Baljit Singh’s treatment at Baltimore (USA) would not have been possible.
He said though there is an upper limit cap of Rs 10 lakh for the treatment of an injured national player, the cap was removed in the case of Baljit Singh at the instance of Gill, who promised the full backing of the Government, financially and otherwise, for the treatment of the outstanding goalkeeper.
“Baljit was sent to Baltimore for corrective surgery on his injured eye, and he stayed there for three months along with his father and doctor. The Ministry incurred an expenditure of Rs 35 lakh for his treatment”, said the official.
“Having done this much, we will continue to do whatever more is needed to further improve his vision”, the official added. He said Baljit was brought back to India as the doctors at the Baltimore hospital, were of the opinion that there was not much that could be done at this stage, except allowing the player to have light exercise on his injured eye, for the next six months.
He said the player, who was airlifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences from Pune after his eye was severely damaged, has now regained his vision by 40-50 per cent, which had looked doubtful initially. He said the doctors at Baltimore had praised the team of doctors who operated on Baljit at the AIIMS as but for their initial deft handling of his operation, there stood little chance of making further headway in restoring his vision, at least partially.
The official said Dr Gill had constantly monitored the progress being made by Baljit, and had even deputed the joint secretary in the Ministry, Prabhir Krishan, to ensure that every aspect of Baljit’s treatment was taken care of by the Sports Authority of India, and monitored on a day-to-day basis, and informed the Minister accordingly.
“The Ministry took keen interest after Baljit was injured and we did everything possible to provide him the best possible treatment”, he added. “In fact, this officer (Prabhir Krishan) adopted him as a family member and took total care for providing Baljit the best possible treatment”, the Ministry official added.
He said Baljit wanted to get back into the team and play, but his “depth perception” was not good enough for him to resume playing hockey and there was more hard work and perseverance in store before he could regain his vision for the maximum extent possible.
“We will continue to help him. We will do whatever is needed to be done in future too”, he noted. “In fact, the doctors at Baltimore said the treatment provided to the player at the AIIMS was so good that his treatment could have been continued there, as well as they did in the US where he underwent three surgeries”, the Ministry official stated.
He said Dr Gill was very upset that the player jumped to certain conclusions without verifying the facts, taking into reckoning the efforts put in by the Ministry, and the Minister himself personally.