A priceless effort for a few bucks

LUCKNOW : At a time when Covid cases have registered an unprecedented rise across the country, there are many who are helping those in need in these critical times. Amita Vishwakarma is one of them. But what distinguishes her from many others is the fact that she has extended her tiffin service to Covid patients under home isolation in Indiranagar and Bhootnath localities which have reported a number of corona cases in recent past.

“I don’t think that it’s something unusual. I am just helping those whom nobody is helping,” said Amita, in her late 30s, who runs ‘Amita Tiffin Service’ in Bhootnath area. “By the god’s grace, it has flourished a lot. Generally, people who don’t have anyone at home to cook or those who are staying alone hire our tiffin service,” said Amita adding she launched her tiffin service business in 2014.

Last year, she said was in two minds on whether she should extend her tiffin service to Covid patients or not. However, she decided in the patients’ favour as her conscience guided her to help them.

As per Amita, she charges just Rs 65 from Covid patients for a meal comprising chapattis, freshly cooked vegetables, dal and rice.

“There is no fixed menu but I keep changing the combination after every two days to add some variety to it,” she added. Amita said presently she was catering to more than two dozen Covid patients in Indiranagar locality which is hard-hit these days due to the rise in the cases.

On safe food delivery, she said, “We serve tiffins to our regular customers. But for Covid patients, we serve food in disposable plates. Our delivery boy, who is well-equipped with a face shield, gloves and masks, keeps food packet at the patients’ doorsteps.

Other than Amita, there are over a dozen people who are also offering tiffin services to Covid patients across the city. ‘Sumit Tiffin Service’ is one of them that operates in Aliganj—another infected area in the state capital.

“We are serving humanity in our own way. We serve fresh food to Covid patients in our locality. There are more than two dozen patients who have hired our service. We charge Rs 60 a meal,” said Sumit Gupta, who runs the tiffin service in the area. Similar services are also operating in other areas of city.

LAST YEAR, SHE SAID WAS IN TWO MINDS ON WHETHER SHE SHOULD EXTEND HER TIFFIN SERVICE TO COVID PATIENTS OR NOT.