The skill development wing of Tata Steel Foundation has offered to train former international cyclist Swaran Singh’s son Jagraj and help him fit into a job. He currently works as a truck driver in Noida.

The skill development wing facilitates training in different spheres and also runs an industrial training institute in Tamar and a technical facility in the steel city.

Skill development head Captain Amitabh said Singh met him last week and told him about his struggle and that his son was living away from him out of compulsion. “ I have asked Singh to talk to his son about the kind of training he was interested in. We are aware that Singh needs support and we would like to help him out by facilitating a job for his son,” he added.

When contacted, Singh, who represented the country in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok and has won countless medals for erstwhile Bihar and his then employers Tata Steel, said he has spoken to Jagraj who is interested in getting trained as an air-conditioner technician. “I plan to call him to Jamshedpur once I get a formal intimation from the skill development wing,” Singh shared.

Singh, who now lives alone in a rented dingy room at Baridih slum, works as a security guard at Ashiana Garden in Baridih, earning Rs 10,000 a month. “I feel very alone. At this age, I need support. My wife stays with my elder daughter who is suffering from bone TB. She lives at my daughter’s home,” the 70-year-old said.

Though Singh has received financial help from former cyclists of Jamshedpur and Punjab, as well as from a BCCI official, he is not keen on spending the rest of his life alone. “The financial help will come handy but I want my son to live with me. I am hopeful he would get employment in Jamshedpur,” Singh said.