With the pandemic come stigma, superstition and distress about the disease among people. Meet 10 youth volunteers of Atmashakti Trust and Jeebika Suraksha Manch of Kandhamal who are on a mission to inform communities about the COVID-19 pandemic and dispel all misgivings.
These volunteers drive their way to remote villages everyday to inform people about social distancing, handwashing and the importance of wearing masks.
And, these volunteers have already covered 224 villages of 11 Gram Panchayats under Tumudibandha and Kotagarh Blocks where they are educating people about the Corona pandemic and helping SHGs to distribute foods to the people in their houses.
"The noble gestures of these youths are praiseworthy," said Sarpanch of the Jubaguda Gram Panchayat Basanti Behera Majhi.
“Neither the villagers were wearing masks nor were washing hands or maintaining social distancing until we informed them about the hazard of the Coronavirus. Through the confusion, stress and worry that COVID 19 causes naturally, we need to contribute to our society,” said Madhab Majhi who himself is a partially physically challenged but a frontline warrior of the group.
"We are spreading awareness on social distancing, handwashing, importance of wearning masks and helping Self-help Group’s efforts to provide food at doorsteps in over 224 villages of 11 Gram Panchayats of Tumudibandha and Kotagada blocks and not only this, we are also spending from our own pockets to help needy and distress families where Government benefits have not yet reached," said Puspanjali Kar, another volunteer.