02 May,2021 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Uma Ramasubramanian
Vineet Kumar Singh
The severity of the pandemic and the inability of the administration to cope with the demand for medical supplies hit home for the Mukkabaaz actor Vineet Kumar Singh when he and his family contracted the virus. Vowing to do his bit, the actor has been reaching out to people in dire need of medical attention.
"I don't have control over the situation, but it is in my control to help people to the best within my capacity, and that I will continue doing," says Singh, who is currently in Varanasi battling the fatigue brought upon by the infection. Social media is abuzz with reports of inadequate medical supplies and oxygen cylinders in the market. "The balance between demand and supply was shaken [because] the black marketers ruined it for everyone. People are selling [everything] at a higher rate," says the actor.
Recently, Singh also criticised the government for mismanagement of the crisis, on Twitter. His post was later removed from the India feed when the central government raised objections, along with tweets by Congress MP Revanth Reddy and West Bengal law minister Moloy Ghatak, among others. "I shared a basic post about what I felt."
"All I know is that if somebody asks for help, I will stand up. Even as I am speaking with you, I have received around 20 messages seeking help. People are dying trying to organise beds and oxygen," he says, adding that the feeling of helplessness sits heavy on his shoulders. "When you speak to those in need, you form an emotional attachment. [After your best efforts] when the person is no more, it hurts". The actor has formed a circle of fans and friends to help people in need.
As a qualified medical professional (MD in Ayurveda), Singh's advice to people is to stay at home and employ breathing exercises as a preventive measure. "The minute I noticed the symptoms, I alerted everyone. I urge people to take simple precautions like daily steam inhalation and address symptoms before it's too late."
