Union Sports Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday announced a grant of Rs. 10 lakh for former hockey skipper Mohammed Shahid, who has been undergoing treatment for serious liver disease at the Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon.
In addition to the grant, Singh said that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs is also trying to have all his medical expenses reimbursed from the Railways Ministry.
"Mohammad Shahid has been the pride of the nation and former captain of Hockey. He brought glory to India. All of us are proud of him and, therefore, we also owe to look after him. He is not well. He is admitted in the hospital with liver disease, which requires intensive management and close follow-up. As far as the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs is concerned, we were the first to come forward and offer all kind of assistance to him. Our ministry and senior officers are already in touch with the hospital administration. We are ensuring that the entire medical expenses get reimbursed," Singh told ANI.
"In addition, we have also placed at the disposal of the attendance and amount of Rs. 10 lakh for the over-head expenses. I was keeping in touch with him when he was shifted from Varanasi to local hospital. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways for which Shahid had been employed for several years is also taking care and whatever re-imbursement is available in the service provision and in addition whatever will be the missing gaps will be filled by Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs," he added while speaking about the government's support to Shahid, who was a part of the side that won silver at the Delhi Asiad in 1982 and a bronze medal in the Seoul Asiad in 1986.
56-year-old Shahid, who was also a part of the Indian team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, was admitted to the Medanta Medicity three days ago following which there were reports suggesting that the doctors had advised him to undergo kidney transplant.
The surgery was, however, put on hold as his liver is too damaged to withstand the stress of a major transplant.