Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
JP Dwivedi of Lucknow felt helpless seeing the number of people dying after contracting COVID-19. He did not have the financial means to assist people in finding a hospital bed or arranging for oxygen for those in need. “But, I had to do something. And so, I began focussing on sanitising areas,” the 27-year-old shopkeeper told Gaon Connection.
Dwivedi lives in Gayatri Nagar near Madiano Thana, a modest neighbourhood in the Uttar Pradesh capital, and his efforts have come in for praise from all. There are hundreds of colonies with inadequate sanitation facilities that fall under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation in Lucknow. These areas saw a number of deaths too.
Also Read: Health official in UP’s Barabanki has been a glimmer of hope amidst tragedies of COVID19 pandemic
“I am not familiar with Corona as a disease, but I do know that many infections can be avoided if a colony is clean and sanitised,” said Dwivedi. And so, he tapped into the meagre savings of Rs 3,500 kept in a cash box in his shop, and began work. He got Diwakar, an acquaintance, to lend him a water tanker, and began cleaning the neighbourhood. However, the money was exhausted in three days.
Seeking help from donors
“I was very happy when work began and felt guilty when I ran out of funds. I then decided to seek financial assistance,” recalled Dwivedi. Ward councillor Amit Maurya and MLA Neeraj Bora provided financial aid. The shopkeeper also approached the Municipal Commissioner of Lucknow and obtained sanitising material from his office.
Work began again and when funds dipped once again, Dwivedi called up the chief minister’s Jansunwai portal, and received help to complete the work.
Also Read: Cancer survivor’s telemedicine centre links medics with villagers in remote areas
“So far, nine tankers funded by donors, have helped sanitise places such as Nayak Nagar, Preeti Nagar, Srinagar Colony, Madiyav Kotwali, Hariom Nagar and Chhota Khan, where more than a lakh people live,” said Dwivedi.
The young shopkeeper helped a lot of people during the COVID-19 lockdown last year too, but funds were a problem this time around. And so, he helped deliver oxygen cylinders and chipped in with funerals.
Also Read: “I may be a jhola chaap, but I help villagers in their times of distress”
“When I suffered from Corona and needed oxygen, I called up JP bhai, and he came to see me with the cylinder, despite the risk,” Abbas, a resident of Bada Imambara, told Gaon Connection.
“I have received support for my work from family and the general public,” said Dwivedi, who has also distributed over 1,500 masks. “The benefits of mask wearing were explained to residents of slums who did not have the money to buy masks,” he added.
“JP has inspired people in the neighbourhood to work together and help each other. I too try to help him. Only when young people come forward to help will we build a good society,” Dwivedi’s co-worker Rajkumar Rai told Gaon Connection.
Read the original Hindi here.
