JAIPUR: Vridha Ram, the driver of a government vaccine van in Rajasthan’s Barmer, has been transporting vaccines to villages in the district bordering Pakistan for the last 19 years. Hence, when he got the opportunity to ferry life-saving Covid vaccines from Jaipur, the challenge of covering 1,100km in 24 hours didn’t deter the 50-year-old.
Elated that he was chosen to carry out the arduous task, travelling from Barmer to Jaipur and back, Ram said, “Because of its location and topography, things take time to reach Barmer. I can’t help but feel proud to have brought this ‘amrut’ (elixir of life) home for my people.”
Ram was accompanied by another driver, Bhika Ram, in the journey. “We knew we wouldn’t get time to rest during our travel as we had to transport the vaccines without wasting time. We started at 8pm on January 13 and reached Jaipur at 6am the next day. Though we travelled the farthest to collect the vaccines, we were the first to receive the consignment at the state vaccine storage in Jaipur,” said Ram.
The duo left Jaipur at 11am on January 14 and reached Barmer by 9pm. “I have been transporting vaccines to rural Barmer for 19 years but the experience this time was different,” said the 50-year-old.
Barmer deputy CMO Dr P C Deepan said, “The drivers helped us reach Jaipur early... We got 11,560 doses and as a result, we managed to start the vaccination drive today.”