Women who battled all odds to serve humanity

Kiran Badhe (left) distributes ration kits to those in need

On this International Women's Day, mid-day brings to you inspiring stories about women from different walks of life, who continued to help the people in trouble despite the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 58-year-old COVID warrior

Kiran Badhe, a 58-year-old Vasai resident who worked as a COVID-19 warrior, helped transgender people, tribals, auto drivers, house helps, society guards and migrants. "We adopted 50 transgender people during the lockdown and gave them free ration, masks, hand sanitisers, etc. Later, they helped me distribute free food packets, masks and sanitisers to others," she said. Bandhe and her team distributed ‘5,000 bags each' of sanitisers, soap, ration kits, etc, in the interiors of tribal hamlets in Palghar, Dahanu, Wada and Vajreshwari. Badhe said they also spread awareness about COVID-19 among the tribals. She added that she followed all the COVID-19 safety rules.

Doctor battled work pressure, PPE suit

When the pandemic shut all private hospitals and clinics, the load shifted on government-run medical facilities, said Dr Rehana Nurul Hasan Mujawar, medical health officer, an Urban Primary Health Centre, Panvel. "It was really difficult to work wrapped in PPE, as we would go out to trace international travellers, and their high and low risk contacts." She lives with her in-laws, husband and two kids, including a two-year-old. She said her next challenge was keeping the polio immunisation campaign running, as most parents were not cooperating with workers. But with the help of Asha and anganwadi workers, she could convince them.

From driving school bus to ambulance
Neelam Singh, ambulance driver

At a time when many ambulance drivers were scared, a 55-year-old school bus driver was ferrying COVID-19 patients to hospitals and quarantine centres. Neelam Singh from Andheri even used her new bus as COVID-19 ambulance. Faced with a shortage of ambulance drivers, the BMC chief had sought the School Bus Association's help. Her bus was selected. Singh said, "I have ferried over 2,000 patients in the past four months. Initially my family members protested, but I continued fearlessly." She added, "The patients who went home after recovering often call, making me very happy."

- Faizan Khan