Assam: Once 2012 Olympic Torch Bearer 'Pinky Karmakar' Now Works at Tea Garden for Rs 167/Day

GUWAHATI: At the time when Indians are still intoxicated by Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal win at Tokyo Olympics 2020, unhealthy news regarding India's former Olympic athlete has surfaced up.

Pinky Karmakar- India's 'torch bearer' at the London Olympics in 2012 is now toiling as a daily-wage leaf plucker at Borborooah tea estate, earning Rs 167 a day.

"I had big dreams, but now there is nothing left to hope. After my mother's death, I had to drop out of college due to acute financial hardship and start working as a labourer in the tea garden," Pinky said in a report published in TOI.

Life has tossed into ignominy for Pinky, who represented India among 20 countries at the Olympic torch relay in Nottinghamshire in 2012. The 26-year-old is now the only bread earner for her family which includes- retired father, a younger brother and two sisters.

Indian athletic girl used to run Unicef's Sports for Development (S4D) programme in her school and teach about 40 unlettered women every evening.

As per reports in TOI, Pinky claims she had been assured "remuneration" for representing India at the torch relay. "To date, I have not received anything. The truth is that the daughter of a labourer has remained a labourer," Pinky added.

The girl who was in class 10 when she carried the torch at the London Olympics feels completely dejected on the front where life has brought her onto. "I cannot give advice to anyone. Everyone questions me about what I have achieved in life. The government and Unicef have abandoned me," she said.

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