I wish there is no third wave of COVID-19 | Sanjay Mallesh Chatri | Unbiased Narratives
Not so dear COVID-19,
जैसे आया, वैसे ही चला जा। वहि अच्छा होगा। (It will be good if you go away the way you came!)
COVID-19 came all of a sudden and it has been a very difficult period. After the first wave, we had hoped that slowly everything would be okay. But then the second wave came and it is worse now. One year has gone by.
When the first lockdown was announced in March’2020, I constantly used to think, when the lockdown would be over? And when can we look for jobs? My mother used to work as a domestic-help and she lost her job. We had rents, electricity bills, and water bills to pay and somehow managed by borrowing money from a few friends and relatives. The moment the lockdown opened, my mother went back to work and I started doing an internship at a mobile repairing company. There was a hope in between that gradually we will be back to normal but when the second wave came, we again lost our jobs. Bills and borrowing interests are piling up. The financial load has increased. We cannot borrow money from the people we already asked for last year. Moreover, they are also affected by this second lockdown. It’s not just me but everyone around here is facing this financial problem.
Last year my mother always used to worry at home without any source of income. Slowly I came to know about Dharavi Diary’s ration support. Along with taking help, I started getting involved. With Nawneet Sir’s guidance, I started helping in distributing rations in my area. People react in different ways. Some are thankful. Some get angry when they don’t get the ration kits. While few ask for more ration kits. I am more confident now in talking to people. Recently, we have initiated the distribution of cooked food to the people who live on roads. These people who don’t have homes and means to cook are our targets. Every day they wait for the food and say, “तुम आते हो तो हमारा पेट भर रहा है| (our stomachs are full because you come). Lockdown तक खाना दो, तो अच्छा रहेगा| (it will be great if you can give us food until the lockdown stays)”. I can connect to people and understand their needs. During the food distribution hours, we end up managing a huge rush. One group of ours has to convince the police about our work. While working with Dharavi Diary, I sometimes come across people who are needier than me. Dharavi Diary even helped me in paying my course fees when I mentioned about my financial problems. And, gave me a chance to teach the young kids at their workshops. I teach English and Mathematics. Teaching, understanding, and managing young kids is also a skill. There are not many small kids in the workshop due to COVID-19. I feel online education is not as effective as physical classes. When I look at the children, I know where they are looking, whether they understood, or whether they are writing correctly. I am inspired by the work done by Dharavi Diary team and realize that if I can, I should help others. If I have a skill, I should teach others. I will never forget their help in such difficult times. They gave me work in the current situation. There are so many people without work.
This work has kept me busy and I avoid overthinking. My mind is occupied. But my mother stays at home without work and is a little frustrated. Since I am the only one in front of her, it comes out on me. She keeps telling me that we don’t have anything for us but I am helping others. With my internship, I was getting Rs. 6000 per month but that is no more there. She keeps worrying about my job. She wanted me to start working after my 10th class. I convinced her and studied until the 12th standard. Then I enrolled myself in 2 years diploma course with ITI. Because of COVID-19, I couldn’t attend the practical classes. I have theoretical knowledge but lack practical skills. This might make getting a job difficult as most of the job requirements ask for practical skills. I used to think about completing my studies and getting a degree. But, now my only focus is to get a job. I need to return the borrowed money. When the lockdown opens, there will be more competition and I am tensed thinking about whether we will have enough requirements for newcomers like me.
Dharavi is a slum area. Houses are small and we use public washrooms. There is not much we can do about social distancing and if we tell employers that we are from Dharavi, sometimes they get scared.
If vaccines are helping we should take them. Few people are scared that they will get a fever after getting vaccinated. I hope people who are left without work at home can be given some small work such as sewing masks. It will keep them busy and since they do not have work now, they will work with the highest sincerity. They will feel that something is going on and keep their mind off overthinking. They won’t roam around on the roads and that will be safer for all. I wish there is no third wave of COVID-19. Otherwise, if this situation continues, our problems will increase.
(Sanjay lives in Dharavi, Mumbai with his mother. He is currently pursuing a diploma course in Industrial Electronics. He is one of the young change-makers of “Dharavi Diary”.)
Dharavi Diary (Gyanoday Foundation) is a wonderful team of young change-makers who have been on the ground collecting the data of most vulnerable groups in dire need and distributing the essential kits to these families in need. To know more about them, visit: https://www.dharavidiary.org
