Heroes of Indore: Recognising contribution of silent workers helping people during lockdown in India

With the outbreak of COVID-19, lives of 35 lakh people in Indore came to a standstill with the national lockdown announced by PM to control the spread of virus. The smart generation of people understood the importance of the lockdown and confined their lives to their homes.

The simple minded people, who worked as daily labourers, were confused and baffled. Their lives already battled life everyday as they braved challenges like climbing a five storey building with construction material weighing about 5 kg on their head and balancing on the partially constructed stairs. Some hung on skyscrapers in the city painting the top storeys to make the city picture perfect and ready to win cleanliness titles.

These simple minded, brave people, were suddenly out of their jobs and even temporary homes. Indore, home to refugees of India’s partition, migrants of other states, businesspersons and a large group of students, is playing the role of a parent for all these stranded people.

Lead by ‘Heroes of Indore’, the city is able to ensure that no one sleeps on an empty stomach, learns the right facts about coronavirus, prevents the infection, and is able to get to their home safely.

There are many silent heroes in the city quietly doing their jobs, some who don’t even to be recognised for the efforts. Bringing out some inspiring heroes like this, we recognise their contribution in our initiative to build a stronger Indore:

Sending daily wagers & students home

When one has suffered and experienced living on the roadside, then it is easy for the person to empathise. One such individual, who remembers his struggles when seeing someone in pain, is artist Wajid Khan.

Khan had lived on streets and hence, his drive began with helping those, who were stuck on street. As soon as lockdown was announced, he distributed 1,000 masks to underprivileged people to prevent them from catching COVID-19.

As the city was under complete lockdown, his heart cried for those students were in Indore for studies. “Now, that they could not go back and even get food, we decided to help them out with food packets,” Khan said.

His wife (Maryam Asif Siddiqui) prepares food for 35 such students on a regular basis. “Since, now they can go home, I have allotted my car for daily wagers and students, who want to go home,” Khan said.

The car drops passengers to IMC borders of Indore easing their commute out of the city. “Yesterday, the car left 12 groups of passengers to toll before Dewas,” Wajid said.

Feeding 100 dogs everyday

Priyanshu Jain, a social activist, is reaching out to over 100 stray dogs’ everyday by feeding them. “Stray dogs get a lot of food from leftovers of hotels and restaurant, but now, they have no alternatives, so it is essential that we are feeding them,” she said.

She explained that due to limited food sources, dogs often get into clashes and lose their temper. “We complain about stray dogs biting people and bothering them, but if we can just understand what they need, it is possible for people and animals to live in harmony,” Priyanshu said.

Ration for 50 households everyday

Seema Sen, a homemaker, is playing the role of a hero for people of slum area near Bombay hospital. She reaches out to the 150 households and provides them ration.

“I provide ration to 50 households every day, so that they are able to feed their families in this time of crisis,” Seema said. She is collecting the money for ration from her whatsapp group of 150 people.

“I have taken charge of helping these people, and I am able to do it because there are people, who are supporting me,” Seema said. Her efforts have made life easy for the daily wagers, who are living in the area.

Distributing 1,000 food packs everyday

Finding the purpose that god intends, businessman Abdul Vasim Rajawat is helping daily wagers, who are returning home by providing them food packets. “We had initially given ration as well, but it seemed that these people, who are travelling home need our help more,” Rajawat said.

He along with his supporters prepare food packets from 50 kg wheat in the morning, which prepares about 500 packets. “We roam around the streets and distribute it to people till evening,” Rajawat said.

In evening, the team prepares another 500 packets and distributes it for dinner till late night. “God has given us an opportunity to serve people and that’s his will that we must follow,” Rajawat said.

He added that it is time for everyone in the country to unite and work together overriding barriers of caste, creed and class. “God, nature and all the people around us help us in leading a happy and comfortable life, it is our chance to give back now,” Rajawat said.

Treating injured animals

Though it is a fun time for stray dogs as there are fewer vehicles racing down the streets, nobody can survive on an empty stomach. “The number of dog fights have definitely increased and even those people in Indore, who care for animals and often help them out, are not around,” Shailendra Singh Chouhan, a social activist, said.

He explained that in such a case, many stray animals are losing their lives. “I am trying to ensure safety and survival of such ignored life forms, i.e. animals in the city by treating the injured and weak ones,” Chouhan said.

For Truck drivers & cleaners

CL Mukati has taken an initiative for cleaners and truck drivers in Indore, who are neither able to earn their bread nor go home. “Trucks are standstill and these people, who work hard to support our economy are now in a difficult situation,” he said.

To help them out, Mukati leading the truck association, is distributing food packets for all the cleaners and truck drivers since the lockdown. “We are providing them masks, sanitisers and essentials to ensure their safety from COVID-19 infection,” he said.

Providing food on request

Joint director of a food joint Prakash Rathore has taken an initiative to provide food and medicines to people in Indore on their requests. He is helping people based on the requests received.

To make requests, people can drop him a whatsapp one day prior to the requirement.