The storm of Covid was desperate to take the entire human race in its arm. There was mourning of death all around. The government system was getting insufficient to save lives. Death was raging everywhere. Crematoriums were overwhelmed with the dead bodies. Humanity was beginning to be ashamed. Hospitals were full. Medicines and oxygen were not available. In some families whole lives were at stake.
Efforts were replaced by prayers. In such tiring times, there was a need of messengers of god. The one who can snatch away the life from the mouth of death .In the series of Article, I am going to discuss about these messengers of god. They were working 24X7.They were challenging their limitation every moment. They were creating miracles. I am talking about the individual volunteers, volunteer organizations who were working day in day out and trying to leave their never ending foot print on humanity.
Who were they? They were ordinary people like you and me. You could find them anywhere. You could see them in your Mohalla, society, college, work place .Only thing which make them different or extra ordinary is when situation arrived they behaved differently. They didn’t curse the situation but fought back. They didn’t waste their time to criticize the govt but created the alternative. They didn’t see the cast, religion but only saw the humanity. These torch bearers of humanity are endless. I have searched some of these diamonds and putting their side of story.
Messengers of God- TEAM-KMECT (Kashmiri Medical Emergency & Charitable Trust)
KMECT as a philanthropic NGO is not new to the Kashmiri Pandit community. The tragic death of an infant in 2009 and at times delayed treatment to needy forced few likeminded persons of community members to think of making some formal kind of arrangement for the needy to serve in timely manner. Same persons namely Late Sqd Leader B L Sadhu (Founder Trustee & Ex. Chairman), Sunil K Thusu, Jatinder Kaw, Rajeev Munshi, Late Vikram Bhat, mooted the idea of forming the trust called KMECT. Team was ably encouraged by other community members and in the year 2009 Trust KMECT was born. In the shortest span of time trustees like Late Sh. S K Khazanchi, Sanjay Dhar, Ajay Pandita, Maharaj Pajan, Dr. Neeru Kharu also joined for this noble cause.
Late Sqd Ldr B.L. Sadhu became the founder chairman with Sunil K Thusu as vice chairman and Jatinder Kaw as general secretary cum treasurer. Currently trust is being led by Sunil K Thusu chairman and Jatinder kaw General Secretary and apart from Chairman and Secretary, core team of the KMECT consists of Maharaj Pajan, Sanjay Dhar, Rajiv ji Munshi, Dr. Anil Bhan, Dr. Upinder Kaul, Dr. Anusheel Munshi, Shiban Krishan Khanzanchi, Ajay Pandita, Neeru Kharu. Also day to day trust work at the back office managed by two young community member Sumeet Bhat and Ankita Kaul.
KMECT ensure that no community members should die due to lack of finances. After doing due diligence, It directly releases the fund to the hospital / Chemists / Labs and Distributors. Trust has the panel of more than three dozen doctors headed by Dr. K L Chowdhury. It provides consultancy services to the registered patients of KMECT. Trust has developed full proof system of financing to the needy one. Whenever requirement arises, its team of doctors checks the necessary papers and test reports. Once they satisfied then other team checks the authenticity of documents and establish that the case needs support irrefutably and to have more transparency the funds are released directly in the account of the hospital / chemist / Test Labs.
Till now KMECT has able to disburse approximately INR 100.00 million to 2500 odd patients, the needy ones.
In this back ground I am going to talk about the KMECT and Jatinder Kaw whom I am in touch with. He is one of the founder trustees and General Secretary of KMECT. When second wave of Covid knocked our door.KP community was not an exception. It was also badly affected like any of us. They also needed doctors, hospitals, oxygen cylinders, food and many other items. Whether it is big cities like NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore or in Jammu, KP community rendered homeless due to militancy in Kashmir were crying for help. Effective and timely help was needed.
How KMECT would remain behind in this pandemic. KMECT trustees consulted within their team and decided to provide resources proactively to the community members. Immediately contact was made with ground level teams and volunteers and KMECT coordinated and formed the response team and tied up with alliance partners for logistics and effective relief for Covid19 patients as under-
|
HEAD COVID RESPONSE: |
MAHARAJ PAJAN |
|
HEAD FUNDRAISING: |
JATINDER KAW |
|
HEAD PATIENT CARE: |
SANJAY DHAR- |
|
PATIENT COORDINATION: |
DR NEERU KHAROO |
|
GURGAON: |
AJAY PANDITA |
|
KMECT ALLIANCE PARTNERS: |
|
|
Covid Response Team Delhi NCR: |
Col Rajeev Raina |
|
Satisar Volunteers Dwarka – Delhi: |
Vinod Fotedar,Sh Rakesh Tickoo |
|
Zara Volunteers-Vaishali |
Manoj Bhan ,Sh Amit Raina ,Ms. Monica
Razdan |
|
We Care Faridabad: |
Digambar Raina |
|
KP Sabha Bhadurgarh: |
Sunil Koul,Sh Ravi Bhat |
|
Covid Response Team Jammu |
Ajay Raina,Sunil Raina Rajnaik |
|
Shreya Bhat Mission Hospital, Jammu: |
Roop Krishan |
|
Shalimar Volunteers – Jammu (For FREE FOOD) |
Rakesh Bhat |
|
KP’s Helping Hand Kashmir (Kashmir
Province) |
Bharat Raina. Sunny Raina-Mattan;Ashish
Ganjoo-Anantnag;Rajender Bushan-Baramulla;Rakesh Kr Pandita- Kupwara |
|
KP Sabha Chandigarh: |
Romaish Pandita; Chandan Sadhu |
The lists of equipment’s were placed in position which was required for the effected in various parts of country. Cumulatively KMECT with support of associations like SG Covid Googlers-Singapore, Kashmiri Pandit Association NSW-Australia, OVBI USA, Kashmiri Overseas Association – USA, Global Kashmiri Pandits in Diaspora, Kashur Raag USA, KP Team UK led by Amit Kachroo.
Managed 46 six oxygen concentrators, 36 Oxygen cylinders with Flow Meter and 5 BiPAP machines and other items in the field. Remained in touch with the field volunteers for timely help. KMECT panel of doctors remains in touch with the KP community for consultancy and referral services as well. My best wishes to KMECT team in general and Jatinder Kaw in particular. May almighty give them strength so that they keep serving the humanity.
Messengers of God- Rakesh Bhat and Digamber Raina
Rakesh Bhat was busy in his carpet business (shalimarfloorings.com). He never thought in his wildest dream that pandemic would hit his area so hard. He got the feeling of Covid affected family when Covid reached in his own home. He understood that when members of the family infected with Covid then even cooking a food would be difficult. Somehow he managed to overcome the difficulty but thought to serve the society. He thought that the problem he faced in his own family others should not face .He started serving the food at Covid patient`s homes in Jammu.
It started initially with 20-30 packets of food then gradually increased to 40-50 per day .When numbers of food packet started to increase then he converted own carpet factory into kitchen and deployed own staff for preparing ,packing and delivering the food. During this food distribution, got the request from Gandhi Nagar Hospital, ESI hospital and police for delivering the food. So he started delivering the food in hospitals as well.
Now number of packet (one packed consist of meal, few biscuits and two water bottle) reached to 350. 350 packets of lunch and 350 packets of dinner got distributed continuously till 31st of May. Initially he made all the arrangements by own only but gradually people came forward and started donating grains and other stuff .Apart from distributing the food packets he also mobilized the fund and got established Covid care center Sharda in talabtillo. He got donated inverters, Ac, concentrators to the hospital.
His selfless service has left a deep impression on the hearts and minds of the people of Jammu. My good luck to him and his team.
Digamber Raina
The pandemic had knocked in the homes of Faridabad. Like other cities, this city too had started losing its dear ones. Lives were yearning for oxygen. The hospitals were proving to be insufficient to save lives. Life imprisoned in homes, looking for a messiah how can hold on his thread of life and provide badly needed oxygen. The roads were deserted. Covid cases were increasing day by day. People were not ready to come out.
They were not ready to help others. They were in grief and panic. They
were thinking that who knew when their turn will come. Second wave was so
infectious that if one member of family got infected then whole family would be
infected. This was certainly a crisis situation in Faridabad. In this scenario
Digamber Raina came in the picture.
He is a founder of WE CARE MEDISERVICE ( www.wecaremediservices.com) a medical services providing company, which deals in oxygen home care services. At one point of time city was at the peak of the pandemic, it was very difficult for him to choose whether to do the business or to do the charity. Fortunately he managed to do the both. He provided the equipment to the clients and charged to them who can afford and at the same time provided free to needy one.
His phone was available to receive the distress call 24X7.During the
emergency he even delivered the equipment at odd hours. He was managing around
1000 calls a day. He provided 38 big cylinders and two concentrators free of
cost to Faridabad police to cater police families. Provided free oxygen
services to KP community in association with KMECT and KP NGO. Also provided
free oxygen cylinders to poor patients. My best of luck to him and his team. May almighty give him strength to serve the humanity.
You can also visit:
How to get the financial assistance for Covid affected families?
To BE CONTINUED…………
I never met Digamber sir, but I remember the night, when I called sir at 11:30pm on 28th April for flow meter n humidifier, he said dont worry you can collect it tomorrow morning. He is like a God for me, as I was trying to find flow meter from 26th, but in vain.Thanks a lot sir,I will always be thankful to you for your support.
ReplyDeleteDear Sapna Peer
DeleteThanks for your kind words for Digamber Raina
@digamberraina 3 years back when I lost my father, digamber raina acted as my elder brother. He proved it again during the pandemic and selflessly helped me even while knowing I was Covid positive. A big salute to his wife as well who cooperated with us. Digamber bhaiya is a superhero. I will never forget what he did for us. Salute brother
ReplyDelete@Sourabh Koul Thanks a lot for your encouragement.
DeleteMr Rakesh Bhat & Mr Digamber Raina Both Not Only Deserve Applause But Would Like To Thank Their Families Also, For Giving Them ' Sanskars'and Be An Example For All Of Us... No Words Can Describe The Value Of Their Help Provided During Such Terrible 2nd Wave, When Everyone Was Trying To Care For Self & Immediate Family...
ReplyDeleteGod Bless Them & Their Families & IWish BestOf Luck To All KP Families Also.. Namaskar !!
-----Dr Ashok Trisal Delhi
@Dr.Ashok Trisal
DeleteYou have rightly mentioned about the families. They certainly deserve the credit.
My mother is alive today because of the timely help Digambar ji provided in form of an oxygen concentrator. Had it not been for his swift and prompt action, it would have been a different story.
ReplyDeleteI can't thank you enough Digambar ji. People like you are real heroes of not onlythe community but humanity itself. Keep on doing the great work brother. May Goddess bless you always. ๐๐๐๐
Thanks a lot for your kind words.
DeleteKMECT team ,Mr Rakesh Bhat ji,
ReplyDeleteMr Digamber Raina ji ..they all are real gems for the society..their efforts are highly inspiring for us..
May God bless them
Thanks a lot for your encouragement.
DeleteDear KMECT Team Members and other community warriors, you guys are doing fantastic work and have set up example for all of us. There is always a joy and hapiness in doing things and the same gets multiplied when we extend help to others without any expectations. The feeling that one gets when somebody share burden of others in distress is just wonderful. The beauty of this team is that while helping others they don't think what difference it is going to make without any expectation but are very clear in their approach , thoughts that it makes all the difference for those who receive it whether small or large and bring smiles to those families.
ReplyDeleteWe keep wondering about the purpose of life and have noticed that passion in this team always enables to extend helping hand to needy community members in distress. God bless all. Keep pursuing your passion, You will not only enjoy the life but you will like it too and keeps on getting blessings. Best wishes to KMECT Team and Rakesh Bhat ji, Digamber Raina ji and other such volunteers also for such selfless service to needy community members. Rgds Sunil Wangnoo
Dear Sunil Wangnoo
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking out time and encourage the real heroes. Your words of encouragement will certainly go a long way in motivating these messengers of God. Thanks again for your valuable words. Please keep commenting.
VOLUNTEERS, INDIVIDUALS, ASSOCIATIOS/INSTITUTIONS/ORGANIZATIONS
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE OUR HEROES.
Tej K Tikoo
Ever since the COVID Pandemic’s Wave II hit India and our beleaguered community hard, some people, institutions, associations, sabhas and organizations have taken on themselves the extraordinary task of rendering succor to many of our community members whose pain and sorrow is beyond words.
There are men and women; well- known and not so well-known, easily recognizable and some faceless, some here in India and many abroad, who have been working day and night, often with little resources, to put the much-needed balm on the wounds of Kashmiri Pandits; wounds inflicted by the raging pandemic.
From organizing medical supplies, providing logistics, distributing corona kits, tracing, and providing hospitals/ ICU beds, making available the elusive oxygen cylinders, connecting doctors to patients; they are doing everything that is humanly possible in this unprecedented crisis. And all this under the constant threat that they too can be the next victims of the curse that is the Wuhan virus.
This is not where their efforts end; organizing cremations, providing comforting counsel to the people in distress, generally trying to develop positivity. These good Samaritans are doing what is humanly possible under the circumstances.
There are Sabhas/ Associations/Institutions/Organizations, here and abroad, who have joined hands to provide medical/ financial assistance to the beleaguered community by rushing such assistance to India from their respective countries in as short a time as possible. There are globally connected doctors of our community who have provided medical advice to numerous patients, both at individual as also at the community level, both physically as also virtually. Such advice from specialist people have helped calm many wrought nerves.
All these people, rendering a yeoman’s service to the displaced community in distress, are special children of Sharika Mata. They are our future, future of Inda and torch bearers of post-covid world.
I know most of these men and women personally, but I cannot name them because, in the process, I might inadvertently miss out some. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
ALL YOU GUYS ARE MY HEROES.
Dear Tej Tikoo
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking out time and expressing your view. Please keep encouraging our heroes.