While much publicity is given to celebrities who reach out to help the vulnerable sections of society, there are countless others with limited means who have gone out of their way to help those in need.
Auto drivers, who have been hit hard during the lockdown, have been offering free rides to hospitals after they heard of others refusing to ferry passengers in their hour of need.
There are many who distributed free meals to those affected the most by the pandemic as well as the relatives of COVID patients who had travelled long distances to get medical help but found they had no place to stay while they waited for their loved ones to recover. There are heart-rending stories of the elderly being abandoned by their families out of fear of infection or simply because taking care of them is too much for them to handle. This is where individuals and organisations have stepped in to provide shelter and care.
In some cities, residents have started to adopt families who have lost their breadwinners, providing a stipend to the school-going children and free rations to ensure they don’t go hungry.
One of the tragedies of COVID-19 is the social stigma associated with the virus and the inhuman treatment meted out to the dead bodies. Families that were unwilling to attend funerals for fear of getting infected have been helped by volunteers who reach the morgue, collect the body and move it to a crematorium or burial ground as well as help the family complete all the paperwork.
Helping people
One of these volunteers said, “At the end of the day when we go home, we are at peace knowing that we helped at least a few souls rest peacefully though their pain and suffering here was something we couldn’t change.” Many of these unsung heroes have gone beyond religion in performing last rites for COVID victims. People from different faiths have come forward to ensure a dignified farewell to those who lost the COVID battle.
I still remember seeing images of the nurses at a hospital, clad in PPE suits, dancing for a patient who was depressed as no visitors were allowed at this COVID facility. The smile on the face of the person being entertained was so lovely to see as well as a reminder that every small act of kindness or compassion can make the world a better place.
These heart-warming stories resound across the globe. For example, in a neighbourhood in Maryland, US, a mum with a strong sense of community leaves stack lunches every day on a table at a busy roundabout. Her action is a reminder that no matter who you are, you can make someone’s day a little brighter. A Reiki instructor in New York is helping families and individuals deal with anxiety through online breathing sessions.
The medicinal properties of turmeric have come to the fore during the pandemic as we all know that this spice packs a major health punch. It is used extensively in Indian cuisine and many of us have been given milk laced with turmeric when we are not well.
Trinity Saioo from Meghalaya has trained around 800 rural women to grow turmeric through organic farming methods. Her organisation has exported around 30 metric tonnes of Lakadong turmeric to many parts of India.
At a time when the internet has become a scary place, where Facebook and Instagram are no longer a friendly escape to see what friends are up to, but now are full of alarming posts regarding the pandemic, it is stories of selfless service or acts of kindness that raise our spirits. Positivity is contagious. So, pursue and pass on good wherever you are.
Vanaja Rao is a freelance writer based in Hyderabad, India
