Manashk

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit India and Mumbai, I have been wanting to go out and help
those in need. As is the case with all catastrophes, unlike the well doers, the underprivileged are
always sidelined and find it hard to get benefits or any help whatsoever. They looked at us with
immense gratitude and were thankful because they weren’t forgotten. They were screened and got
health check-ups in this pandemic of unprecedented magnitude. I finally got the opportunity to do it
when I found out that the BMC was conducting screening drivers across Containment Zones in
Mumbai with the help of other NGOs and RSS. So I called and I signed up without telling my parents
which was a big shock to them when they found out. They did not even let me go and caught my
bags when I was leaving on a path which I had chosen for myself. However I somehow managed to
convince them and I left for the campus as soon as I could. The BMC and RSS took good care of us by
putting us up in a 4 star and providing us with amazing 5 time meals along with energy drinks and
haldi waala dudh.
I did have second thoughts on the first day when I saw the slum we were about to enter. Basically
we had to screen the containment zones across mumbai and check for people with abnormal
temperatures and oxygen levels. This included Dharavi too. When WHO lauded the BMC for curbing
the spread in Dharavi, I felt amazing to have been a part of it. We had to go door to door to achieve
this at a lot of places.
I was really afraid but then my colleagues who were older than me, helped me out. I was lucky. to
have the best colleagues. We screened around 40-50k in a week. The people were helpful and
performed our aarti to express their gratitude!!.
That was the best part. I feel like I’ve been on a spiritual journey.

YouTube Vid Link : https://youtu.be/dq5_fcnFUm0
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