Former welder Asghar turns to begging in Delhi after losing leg in accident
Asghar, a former welder and laborer from Godda district in Jharkhand, has resorted to begging on the streets of Delhi to survive after losing his right leg in a construction site accident last year. Following his discharge from a Delhi government hospital earlier this year, Asghar is now saving money to return to his hometown and open a small shop.
Asghar’s journey to Delhi began when he was 12 years old, arriving in the city to search for work. He started by washing dishes in a small eatery before transitioning to physical labor, first working as a rickshaw puller and later hauling loaded handcarts for wholesale market merchants. Eventually, he trained as a welder, which allowed him to earn several thousand rupees a month.
Last year, Asghar moved north to Chandigarh to work as a welder on a construction site, where he met with a severe accident. He was subsequently brought to a Delhi government hospital for medical treatment. A female doctor at the hospital informed him that his right leg had to be amputated to save his life.
Upon his discharge at the beginning of this year, the hospital provided Asghar with a free pair of crutches. Unable to perform physical labor, he began begging and sleeping on pavements in Delhi while planning his return to Jharkhand. However, his recovery faced a setback when an unidentified person stole his crutches, PAN card, and Aadhaar card while he was asleep.
Following the theft, Asghar’s family in Jharkhand sent a photograph of his Aadhaar card to his mobile phone, which was not stolen. The same Delhi government hospital also provided him with a replacement pair of crutches. His family in his home village includes four sons and a daughter. His wife, Tabassum Khatoon, passed away last year due to an appendix-related illness.
Asghar is currently waiting to receive an artificial limb for his amputated leg. Once he receives the limb, he plans to board a train back to his village in Jharkhand to establish a small shop.
