One year of lockdown: How heroes from Mumbai helped survive the pandemic

A man feeds stray dogs and bird at Carter Road Promenade in Bandra. Pic/ Sameer Markande

The coronavirus-induced lockdown led to Mumbai local trains coming to a halt, migrants burning their soles to walk back home, jobs lost and the economy coming to a standstill. But true grit emerges only in the face of adversity. Here are some stories of people from across Maharashtra who braved all odds and survived the pandemic.

Mumbai's ‘Covid Santa' who gave joy, and masks

In December last year, a man, dressed as Santa Claus, was seen carrying out sanitisation and distributing masks in Rani Lakshmi Chowk area of Mumbai. The man, Ashok Kurmi, president of Sion friend Circle Foundation, said, "I used to celebrate Christmas every year by distributing toys, chocolates, and gifts to underprivileged kids but this year due to the massive spread of COVID-19, I decided to sanitise bus stands, autos, and other places."

5-star chef who lost job, sells biryani on roadside to make a living

Mumbai-based Chef Akshay Parkar had a fancy job in international luxury cruises, five-star and seven-star hotels. However, the pandemic led to him getting fired from a place where he had worked for 8 years.

But this didn't deter him, he opened a roadside stall and started selling 5-star quality biryani to eke a living.

Mother-in-law undergoes chemo, this nurse was still on duty

A nurse in the COVID-19 ward of Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi had two daughters aged 3 and 6, and mother-in-law was undergoing chemotherapy, but still she went for duty.

Speaking to Instagram handle ‘Humans of Bombay', the nurse said, "My daughters are only 3 and 6 years old, so when I left for duty as a nurse in the Covid Ward at Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, we didn't tell them I would be gone for long. But when they realised, they wouldn't stop crying. My mother-in-law is undergoing chemo and my mother has heart disease. My mother-in-law is losing her hair and is constantly vomiting, but she still video calls and says, "Hamari beti apni duty nibha rahi hai."

Mumbai: Restaurateur launched 24/7 outreach to make hospital beds, ambulance available

In April, Marzy Parakh, a restaurateur and philanthropist launched a helpline by tapping his network of doctors, hospital staff and citizens.

"We divided city hospitals amongst us; one person would be in charge of, around 10. Whenever someone would call in with a request, we would check with our sources and get back in five minutes," he said.

Marzy Parakh at his Worli home. Pic/Atul Kamble

Nashik: Specially-abled woman becomes sarpanch of 2 villages

Kavita Bhondwe, 34, did not let her physical disability stop her from serving the people of two villages in Dindori Taluka, Nashik district. Bhondwe, who became Sarpanch at the age of 25, is now serving a second term. Succeeding as sarpanch was a personal challenge for her as she overcame societal pressures and prejudices against her. She brought significant changes in gram panchayats' affairs and stood up against illegal practices in the region.

She gives credit to her father for encouraging her to contest the election.

Anganwadi staffer rowed 18-km daily to tend to newborns, pregnant women in villages

A 27-year-old woman staffer of Anganwadi rowed 18-km daily along the Narmada to look after tribal babies and pregnant women in two Maharashtra hamlets after the fear of COVID-19 kept the group of tribals from coming to her.

Relu Vasave is a resident of Nashik and grew up near Narmada, where she learned swimming. She borrowed a boat from a local fisherman and started visiting the hamlets of Aligat and Dadar in April so that 25 newborn babies and 7 pregnant women do not miss out on proper medical care and nutrition.

Being an Anganwadi member, she was supposed to keep checking the weight, health, and proper growth of newborns and their mothers. "It is not easy to row every day. My hands pain by the time I am back home in the evening. But that doesn't worry me. It's important that babies and expecting mothers eat nutritious food and remain healthy. I will keep visiting these hamlets till things improve on the COVID-19 front," Relu told ANI.