Parvati Darshan sees unity in virus survey

Locals chipped in for a 3-day study in hotspot, PMC team did not face any hurdle

The Parvati Darshan area has been an exception, as during the city-wide coronavirus disease (COVID-19) survey initiated by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) the civic body team was not abused but greeted with tea and breakfast unlike in other such hotspot zones.

After 114 COVID-19 positive and six deaths reported in Parvati Darshan, fear is palpable among the residents but they came forward and set up a system to ensure that there is no dispute between the residents and survey staff.

In order to deal with the survey to contain pandemic, the residents last week formed several groups in which they involved two youths, one sanitation employee residing in the area and two doctors. They also sought help from some social organisations which provided them with some doctors.

During the three-day local survey — from Thursday to Saturday — the team would visit the area and give a form to each house to fill up the family details. Incidentally, the forms were printed by the residents only. The doctors used to conduct the basic check-up of the residents and then they would give some medicines if required. They submitted the forms to the survey staff while they visited the areas. Even when the survey staff entered the area, people came out and helped the staff by furnishing minute detail.


The system was set in such a way that the staff did not have to wait for people at their door. Instead of complaining about the survey staff, the residents would clap for the team work and they were offering tea and breakfast for the team while strictly following the rule of social distancing, using masks and sanitiser. The best part of the communication was that there are many PMC sanitation employees residing in the Parvati Darshan area.

Raja Adagale, a PMC employee while narrating his experience, said, “Since we are residents in the area, people know us very well. The situation is quite serious with residents are under fear. When the survey team wearing the PPE kit enters any area, people are scared more and they refuse to co-operate with the PMC employees. To avoid the situation, I used to show my face by removing mask and then would start my work. People used to feel free to talk with us. Then we would explain them the need of the survey. We would create awareness first and then start working. This method took time but we ensured that we have reached out to each and every person in the Parvati Darshan area. Even in Muslim areas, we sought help from the maulanas who would counsel the people before conducting the survey.”

Another resident Sachin Pasalkar added, “Our team would visit door to door along with the PMC team. We had already prepared a form in which we reported the details of family members, age and symptoms etc. So it became easy for the staff to coordinate with the people. First, we focused on the hotspot area. We conducted a three-day survey with screening and then started working in another part of Parvati Darshan. Along with the screening, we focused on creating awareness and told them the importance of social distancing. They would listen to it carefully and passed it on to others. As per the given Instructions they would co-operate with the PMC staff without any complaint. People would come forward if they missed the screening. From children to senior citizens, we covered all.”

Abhijeet Ghoman, another resident, shared, “We have reached 2,340 families and covered 9,553 residents in three days. On the first day, some youths were teasing us, but when they realised the situation they also joined us to reach out people in the slums.”