Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD/SP)

Udupi, Jun 15: The pandemic has been adversely affecting the lives of the people. Being hungry is an experience, the severity of which can be felt by only those who live with it. The poor and the hungry, who struggle to get food for the family, are left in the lurch by the coronavirus infection that has robbed them of their jobs and other livelihood activities. This situation has moved the heart of a coolie from the town. He has decided to provide food to 70 families which are going through a crisis in life that is worse than his own.

Coronavirus has squeezed people out of their enthusiasm to enjoy their existence. Poor people who were somehow able to subsist from out of money they earned on a daily basis, have been pushed down into an abyss of uncertainties. The situation has come to such a pass that even rich families are finding it hard to carry on with life. Noticing the plight of the poor, the heart of a poor daily wager from here throbbed for them.

Krishna from Ambalpady works as a coolie. He normally does works like cutting down trees and carefully bringing down branches of trees. He is a Dalit, and has donated about Rs 70,000 he earned through hard work and provided rice, pulses, salt, sugar, tea, and other items of need to 70 families.

Krishna says that he was inspired by the social service rendered by a local social worker, Vishu Shetty. He said he donated 50 kits and his friend, Ravi Panjimar, too contributed. He feels that the haves should help the have-nots. "I have gone through critical times and so I understand the plight of the poor. After my friends identified poor families from Katapady, Ambalpady, Kappettu etc, I have given them kits," he stated.

In spite of not being well off, Krishna has a rich heart. He has not forgotten the hard days he went through when small. He had been saving money for the last couple of years and donated his entire savings for providing succour to the families facing hard times. Like Krishna, if others too are inspired by social workers like Vishu Shetty, poor families always have some hope.

Vishu Shetty hailed Krishna for undertaking a worthy task at this time of lockdown. He said that Krishna, by helping others in spite of himself going through a critical period, has opened the eyes of many. Vishu stresses that humanitarian concern is the need of the hour.