Coronavirus Pune: How residential societies are coming forward to beat pandemic with humanity

Residents of many housing societies in Pune have come forward to help the needy in every way they can. They have emerged as COVID warriors who are giving parallel support to the district administration and the government in easing the pain of those affected.

From giving lunch packets to ration kits, these residential clusters of Pune pitched in to help nearby labourers, workers and those who lost their jobs due to the lockdown and subsequent economic inactivity.

Blue Ridge in Hinjawadi that has become a landmark in the IT hub of Pune boasts of around 4,000 apartments spread over a large area — and is also home to 35-40 stray dogs.

“A few days after the lockdown, we started noticing that these dogs, otherwise friendly, had become very aggressive. We realised they were almost starving since they weren’t getting food from their regular feeders or nearby hotels’ waste,” said Prerna Kapoor, a techie who sought permission from the management committee of the society and formed a group of volunteers who now feed the strays in the campus at designated spots.

Sandeep Roy, a member of the management committee of Blue Ridge, informed that vacant flats were given to the security guards of the sprawling society, along with some basic household items so that they could stay inside, rather than move out and risk infection during the lockdown.

Manik Malhotra and Ravi Kiran Reddy, also residents of Blue Ridge, stepped forward to collect money and made ration kits worth Rs 500 — contributed by many residents — for nearby villagers who were struggling for basics.

Residents welfare associations’ members in different parts of Pune revealed that those living in posh societies usually earn well and parting with just Rs 500-1,000 doesn’t pinch their pocket. Still, that amount makes a world of difference to someone who is struggling to get even two meals a day during the lockdown.

In Thergaon’s Swiss County residential society, Priyanka Singh, Anuradha Kardile and Tejashree Kamble gathered those wanting to help the labourers stranded in their areas by facilitating lunch packets. Residents are encouraged to prepare one extra meal, which is then packed and picked up by volunteers working for the local corporator Kailas Barne.

Singh said from April 1 till date, around 8,000 food packets have been sent out from their gates.

At the other end of the city, members of the NIBM Road Residents Forum took help from RSS to contribute for over 300 ration kits in various basis, informed Yogendra Gupta, resident of Grafikon Paradise and member of this Forum.

Almost all housing societies in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are urging residents to pay their domestic helpers the full salary for April and May, and many have generously obliged.

If your housing society is involved in lockdown relief work or if individuals are volunteering for helping the needy, do get in touch with details to reporters@sakaaltimes.com.