Amid pandemic, resident welfare assns lending a helping hand
LUCKNOW: From organising antigen testing to caring for those who have tested positive, resident welfare associations are doing their bit to help people in areas where Covid cases are increasing alarmingly.
There are 70 resident welfare associations under the Gomti Nagar Jankalyan Mahasamiti whose members have data of each member residing in various khands of Gomti Nagar and Gomti Nagar extension. “All of us are connected and keep checking each others’ welfare by calling up each other,” said Gomtinagar Jan Kalyan Mahasamiti general secretary Raghvendra Shukla.
“All these 70 RWAs are playing an active role in identifying Corona suspects and helping district administration organise camps for rapid antigen tests in their area. We have organized two consecutive camps on Saturday and Sunday for rapid antigen tests where nearly 7 people tested positive. If anyone has tested positive, our volunteers take care of their family,” he said.
Roop Kumar Sharma, divisional warden and secretary of Gomti Nagar Jankalyan Mahasamiti, who supervised antigen tests in Vivek Khand 3, said despite social distancing the pandemic has brought people closer.
“From checking about the well being of senior citizens who are staying alone during these testing times, to checking on a lonely tenant or monitoring if the maids are coming to work, virtually everyone is trying to help each other,” Sharma said.
KK Singh, president of Gomti Nagar Satluj Apartment and Gomti Nagar Vistar Samiti, said: “On Saturday and Sunday we organised two rapid antigen test camps for residents. In all, 312 residents got themselves tested of which seven tested positive.”
Manoj Upadhyay, a functionary of Vivek Khand 4 Samiti said, “From ensuring cleanliness, to ensuring proper lighting and that the roads are in proper shape we are doing everything.”
KS Abot of Samar Vihar RWA in Alambagh too said COVID-19 has helped people connect to each other. “Corona has taught us to work hard for benefit of each other,” he said.
“At present, seven families have one or more corona patients but our members are connected through a whatsapp group. We ensure that if anyone needs help like medicine, food, or has to deposit electricity bill etc, we are able to help them,” said Dheeraj Saksena of Patel Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association in Alambagh.