Lakhs of people in India lost their livelihood amid the Covid-19 outbreak last year. Unfortunately, the same happened with Naresh Tumda, a World Cup-winning, visually impaired Cricketer. Due to the pandemic situation in the country, the Government implemented a nationwide lockdown for most of the time last year. This led to a lot of people losing their jobs and hence struggling for their daily bread.
Naresh Tumda, who belongs to Gujarat’s Navsari, was a member of the Blind Cricket World Cup-winning Indian team. He is currently working as a labourer in Haryana. Tumda was an important part of the Indian team which defeated Pakistan in the 2018 World Cup Final. Pakistan, in the final, posted a humungous total of 308 runs which the Indian team chased down with 9 balls to spare.
The 29-year old Naresh requested numerous times for a job from the government but didn’t get any positive response. Naresh recalled that after the team won the World Cup in Dubai three years back, they were appreciated and celebrated. He exclaimed that they also met the ministers and the President. He said that he was happy after winning the World Cup as he expected that he’d get a job.
“When we won the World Cup I was very happy and thought I will get a job but till now I didn’t get the job. I urge Prime Minister to provide a job for my livelihood,” he said.
ANI on Twitter: “Gujarat: Naresh Tumda, part of a team that helped India win 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup, now works as a labourer in Navsari to earn a livelihood “I earn Rs 250 a day. Requested CM thrice but didn’t get a reply. I urge govt to give me job so that I can take care of my family,” he said.
Gujarat: Naresh Tumda, part of team that helped India win 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup, now works as a labourer in Navsari to earn livelihood
"I earn Rs 250 a day. Requested CM thrice but didn't get reply. I urge govt to give me job so that I can take care of my family," he said pic.twitter.com/NK4DFO6YYC
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2021
Tumda had to sell vegetables during the lockdown to earn his livelihood. He now is working as a daily wage labourer as selling vegetables wouldn’t cover his expenses. He is the only one who brings home the bacon.
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Naresh Tumda is visually classified as B1 which means he has no light perception in either eye up to light perception, and an inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction. He is a talented cricketer who started playing at the age of 5. He was selected in the Gujrat team back in 2014. Tumda was a member of the playing XI in the 2018 World Cup final.