Pune: As the world copes with the COVID-19 outbreak, several good samaritans have made the headlines with positive gestures during the lockdown. Many NGOs, government agencies, social activists as well as entrepreneurs continue to work relentlessly to unite for various social initiatives and reach out to the underprivileged. Another such story emerged when Mr Arvind Kumar Singh from Goriakothi, Siwan in Bihar, stepped up to aid the migrants of Bihar.

The plight of migrant workers of Bihar returning from different states during the lockdown disturbed him immensely as they were hit the hardest by the lockdown restrictions. He actively started working with local people in Pune to provide food, lodging and transportation facilities to around 100 returning migrant workers of Bihar, especially of his district.

Under the initiative, Singh and his team collected the data of workers from Bihar who were stuck in Pune and helped them get tickets and board trains along with the arrangement of food and medical facilities. Although train services have restarted and the economy has reopened substantially, the movement of migrant labourers continues. Singh has so far facilitated the return of around 5,000 migrant workers belonging to various districts of Bihar to reach to their villages and home towns from many states by arranging for transport in buses, truck or trains.

"We used to get several calls a day from workers who wanted to return to Bihar and requested to make the necessary arrangements," Arvind was quoted saying. "I'm so grateful to the local team in Pune and everyone who worked on the ground. There are many stories of success that we had to work as a team which reaffirm my faith in our society.”

Not deterred by the spread of COVID-19 infection, as the monsoon lashed parts of India, seasonal floods that created havoc in parts of Bihar state further tested the resolve of Arvind Singh. Him, along with his fellow citizens, engaged themselves in flood relief and rehabilitation. He had quickly set up many tents and community kitchen to supply food to the needy and also arranged for boats to provide them safe shelter from the flood-affected areas.

Arvind Singh is also contributing immensely to the public welfare programs in his district in Bihar. He actively participated and even spearheaded a range of general welfare activities such as organising health check-up camps, tree plantation drives, sanitation work, facilitating education programs amongst others.