Pune: The coronavirus pandemic has pushed us to the basics. Over the many decades, we have been spoilt with help for numerous chores like housekeeping, keeping our premises and gardens clean, managing our daily necessities, groceries, etc., while we battled our busy schedules.
With the enforcement of the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) keeping in mind 'stay home, stay safe' advice from health experts, we are left to take care of all those activities by ourselves.
Taking necessary precaution, many citizens see the situation as an opportunity to come together and help one another as well as the community at large to ease the pressures of the workload.
Residents of Nandan Prospera society in Baner-Balewadi came up with one such initiative with over 25 of them getting together every day to help the society and the community. The group has carried on doing this for the past few weeks as their housekeeping, security and landscape garden teams are unable to make it work due to the lockdown.
LENDING A HELPING HAND
Coming from all age groups, the youngest being seven years old, these residents are taking up various tasks assigned to them. Some sort out wet and dry garbage, wheelbarrow it to the composting unit within the society as each resident carries down their segregated waste and places into clearly marked bins in the garbage rooms.
Some water the huge gardens around the society with recycled water, sweep and mop common areas, and some others manage milk, vegetables other such items while also maintaining the grocery vendors' schedules.
Speaking to Sakal Times, about the positive outlook of the residents towards the current situation, David Dsouza, a former journalist and a resident of Nandan Prospera, a senior member of the Baner Balewadi Pashan Residents' Association, said, "There is also the guy who monitors the vegetable vendor, ensures the milk vendor comes in, ensures everyone stays in, and no one goes out. We also have fun. It is important to also look at this situation positively."
While these jobs can get tasking, the volunteers ensure that there is the fun element as well and organise online quiz competitions and photography tutorials for all to be part of.
All this, while ensuring masks are worn, social distancing is practised diligently, and all safety precautions are adhered to.
HELPING OTHERS IN FRONT-LINE PROFESSION
Making contributions beyond helping one another, the residents are also extending a helping hand to people in those professions who are still working on the front-line to ensure the necessary tasks are taken care of, such as policemen, security guards, and the like.
The residents serve tea and snacks thrice a day to the skeletal security, each slot demarcated by time, day of the week and name of the resident. A resident of also offered some refreshments to police officials serving in Radha Chowk in Baner. Many of them are also doing their bit for the community, packing provisions and meals and distributing it to the needy who live around the society.
While there are, undoubtedly, reasons to worry and feel low, we can all take a cue from such citizens, work together and connect better with one another and the society at large, as we aim to rise from the crisis, sooner than later.
