When Youth Stepped Into the Heroes’ Shoes
Report prepared by
Confederation of Young Leaders (CYL), Republic of India
The spread of Covid-19 on a global scale has brought people’s lives to a standstill. While the doctors, the police and the sanitation cleaners are working day and night on their duties, the general population is playing its role by staying quarantined, so as to avoid further spreading of this contagious disease. Social distancing and isolation have become the greatest measures against this virus. At such difficult times, some young heroes have come up to help the population through such uncertain situations. These young heroes have set examples of bravery, altruism and enthusiasm to help others through their helplessness. These people have set benchmarks, stood true to their responsibilities and fulfilled expectations.
Zorintluangi from Nagaland
Little Zorintluangi is a nine-year-old, third grade student of Faith Academy in Aizwal in Nagaland. Despite being so young, Zorintluangi has displayed exceptional selflessness towards those affected by the Coronavirus. She took the initiative and came forward to donate the entirety of her Rs. 1,107 to the local-level Luangmual task force to help them battle against the deadly virus.
In an interview, Zorintluangi’s mother told the media that her daughter had been sleepless ever since the lockdown got enunciated. She was getting increasingly worried about those affected by the virus and wanted to help them in every way possible. She was also concerned about how the lockdown due to the virus affected the poor people the hardest. She insisted on wanting to help the poor affected by the lockdown, having taken inspiration from her grandmother who distributed food to their tenants. Zorintluangi finally made up her mind and came up with a way to help the poor affected by the lockdown. Along with her three elder siblings, Zorintluangi broke open her piggy bank, in which she had been saving up money to buy herself a tiffin box for school. She counted the total amount added up by the coins and crumpled notes, and then went ahead to hand over the accumulated amount of Rs. 1,107 to the local task force.
Zorintluangi finally felt relieved after having played her role towards helping the nation whilst a global pandemic.
Minal Dakhave Bhonsle: the woman being India’s first Covid-19 testing kit
Minal Dakhave Bhonsle, the research and development chief at Pune-based research laboratory Mylab Discovery Solutions. She is a virologist who had also worked in the 2009 Swine Flu outbreak at NIV Pune. She started working on the Coronavirus test kit in February, while she was still on her last stage of pregnancy. She considered the nation’s needs before her personal ones and proceeded towards conducting essential research to develop the kit.
Running a race against time as well as her personal state, nine months pregnant Bhonsle worked on the testing kit, and just a day after ICMR’s announcement allowing private labs in India to test for Coronavirus on 18th of March, submitted her kits for evaluation to the NIV and later to the FDA. She was checked into the hospital immediately after having completed her kit for her delivery. Minal Dakhave Bhonsle will surely go down in history as the woman who gave India its first Covid-19 testing kit.
Dr. Shifa Mohammed: the doctor who postponed her wedding to treat Coronavirus patients
Kerala based doctor Shifa M Mohammed is a physical manifestation of how a doctor’s utmost happiness comes from treating their patients, not from personal advents. Her decision to postpone her wedding to a Dubai-based businessman and spend the day dressed in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) instead of her bridal outfit sets an inspirational example to the youth. She spent March 29th, the day that was originally supposed to be her wedding day, treating infected patients struggling for life.
Shifa’s father, who is a political leader in Kerala, was very proud of her decision. He told the media that the family readily agreed to her decision to postpone her wedding. “In every girl’s life, wedding is an important event. But my daughter has put her social responsibility and professional commitment before her personal needs.” He said to the press.
Shifa herself doesn’t consider her act as an inspirational one, instead, she thinks of it as her duty and obligation towards her country. “I didn’t do anything great. I only did my duty. There are many people like me who postponed their personal engagements. I am only one among them.” She told over phone, after she exited the isolation ward.
Caremongers India
Caremongers India is a Bengaluru based non-profit, voluntary organisation, founded by Mahita Nagaraj. The aim of the organisation is to provide the basic needs and necessities to the people who are unable to do so during lockdown, owing to physical disability or old age. The organisation consists of young volunteers from across the city who provide medicines and essentials to senior citizens or people suffering from some form of disability.
The organisation was started by Mahita Nagaraj after a friend of hers requested her to deliver some medicines to her parents living in the city. The incident sent her wondering about how such needy people will be able to manage their needs during a nationwide lockdown. This lead to her creating a Facebook group, which, within 48 hours of forming, had about two thousand members. The caremongers received about four hundred calls on their helpline number within twenty four hours of creation.
When asked about the helping procedure, Mahita reported that the caremongers accept requests from four categories: senior citizens, physically challenged, anyone with an infant younger than twelve months and people with pre-existing medical conditions. The group also pays primary focus on the wellbeing of the volunteers. All deliveries are done to the colony gate or the condo gate. The payments are made using digital payment platforms like PayTm, Google Pay, or other UPI based payment modes.
The group has been seeing an increasing number of volunteers from around the city as well as the outskirts. Talking about her professional life, Mahita notes that she is a digital marketer, and works with independent marketing businesses. She also regularly takes up social responsibility projects and has had successful campaigns like ‘Feed Your Neighbour’ in past.
Mahita’s ultimate happiness comes from the smile on her clients’ faces when the caregivers reach out for their help. Her selflessness and consistent efforts are commendable. “At such times we must all step out to help. Everyone’s sitting at home; if there’s something you can do to ease someone else’s life, then why not?”
Datta Ram Patil: the Farmer who Donated his Harvest
The farmers across India have been hit exceptionally hard due to the lockdown. The lockdown has forced them to stay at home during the harvest season, which has led to the deterioration of their crops. In many parts of the country, farmers have been seen to be forced to discard their damaged crops. These farmers have been exhibiting varied degrees of dissatisfaction, leading to appeals to the government to lift the lockdown.
At such hard times, a farmer named Datta Ram Patil from Nashik in Maharashtra has set an inspiring example by coming forward and taking the initiative to donate his harvest to the ones affected by the coronavirus. Datta Ram is a small farmer in Nashik who owns a three acre land that he uses to grow wheat. The wheat he donated is from one of the three acre land that he owns. Datta Ram reported to the press that his family is not financially stable but he played his small role towards helping the nation through such hard times.
“If the family has one chapatti then they can give half to others who are in need.” Datta Ram said.
Datta Ram’s efforts did not go unnoticed. He was hailed by the Office of the Chief Minister in Maharashtra. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra tweeted “Only humanity will help us win the war! Thank you Datta Ram Patil ji for this.”
The Policemen and Policewomen across the country
During times of a global crisis, the Police personnel have set admirable examples how dedication towards their duty and the nation. The police have shouldered their responsibility and have been working tirelessly towards enforcing and maintaining law and order during the lockdown. Despite facing adversity, these brave warriors have not left any stone unturned while on duty. Many of such examples can be seen from across the country.
In Morbi district of Gujarat, police Constable Vipul Fultariya continued his duty without taking a single day off even after he got blessed with a baby daughter. Instead of taking leave, Constable Vipul Fultriya went home to see his new born daughter and shower his love and blessings on her, and return to continue with his duty.
Another exceptional example can be seen through woman Constable Alka Desai of Bhuj town in Kutch district. Constable Alka Desai has been working on her duty while carrying her two year old daughter. Her husband is also a police Constable, and the couple does not have anyone at home to take care of their young daughter. Constable Alka made a decision to work on her duty with her daughter. “I have joined the police to serve the nation. I can’t take leave when the nation needs me the most. At the same time, I am also a mother. So I have decided to carry on my duty with my daughter along.” Constable Alka told the press. The authorities, upon learning of her dedication and commitment, assigned her duty close to the police station where she can keep her daughter.
All around the world, people have been taking noble initiatives to help the ones in need. Many people have also set up helplines to assist the ones struggling with mental health during quarantine. Many NGOs and NPOs have taken the initiative to distribute food and homemade masks among the poor. The students of Jadavpur University in Kolkata came forward to develop hand sanitizers in the university chemistry labs, which they then distributed among the population. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video of a young girl writing a letter to her father urging him to stay indoors in order to defeat Covid-19, instead of seeking out opportunities to come home to her. “Dear father, I am not missing you, and neither is mother”, she wrote in the letter.
At such trying times, it becomes the responsibility of the youth to pave way and shine a light on the right path for the country’s population. After all, as is rightly said, the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Hence, as the youth of the country, it is our duty, our obligation to serve our purpose and lead the country on the right path against this enemy.
