In a concerning turn of events, the state of women’s empowerment and security, as claimed by governments championing slogans like “Educate the Girl Child, Save the Girl Child,” is under scrutiny due to the heartbreaking story of 16-year-old athlete Ritika from Poojniyas village in the Jaroada gram panchayat area of Bhilwara district, Rajasthan.
The Rajasthan government, which hosts the Rajasthan Olympics, had allocated a sum of Rs 6 lakhs from the legislator’s fund to purchase bicycles for a cycling competition. However, when it came to securing a cycle for aspiring athlete Ritika Bishnoi, who had won 12 medals in cycling competitions at the national level, the funds were curiously withheld by the legislator, Indira Bawri. This decision posed a major hurdle in her journey to international competitions. Hailing from a humble background, Ritika’s father, Ram Ratan Bishnoi, tirelessly pursued the government offices for ten months, seeking the release of funds for his daughter’s cycle.
Finally, driven to desperation and seeing his daughter’s dreams crushed, Ram Ratan Bishnoi filed a formal complaint, alleging a serious lapse in the bureaucratic process and administrative negligence. He demanded a thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice and ensure his daughter’s aspirations were not in vain.
