As we all rest in our homes scrolling through our cell phones, we often tend to forget that the world outside our bubble is still revolving. With troubles of lack of facilities and being deprived of a one-day meal, the COVID – 19 has made us see it all. As they all say, as uncertain it may seem: there is always a hope of light amidst the darkness.
As the COVID – 19 crisis still persists, the people of Somwarpet Taluk of Kodagu district have been deeply infected by the disease. But this team has helped them by giving them the facilities that they need and offering them that one helping hand in times of trouble. Speaking of hope, these young members from the YIFA (Young Indian Farmers’ Association) have walked the extra mile in bringing the same.
Established in 2018, the YIFA is a society-cum-organisation that focuses more on social services to act as an association for farmers and planters of the district. It is led by President Shreenidhi Lingappa, Secretary Sajjan Mandanna, with other office bearers being Mohit Thimmaiah, Abhishek, Chiranjeevi, Charan Kant, Adarsha Tammaiah, Arun Kumar, Ashwini, Dr. Rakesh Patel and team. “We started off when the landslides hit our Kodagu in the year of 2018. Starting out with 43 members initially, we helped people with the necessities they needed to carry forward”, says Advocate and President Shreenidhi Lingappa. He also adds that there have been donors from his friends and family who have come forward and raised funds for the cause.
The team has distributed around 180 food kits so far and engaged themselves in social works with active volunteers to support the cause. Some of their activities include providing essential food kits to the isolated patients or the ones in need, getting required medicines, and also offering funeral services.
The funeral services are provided through the collaboration of volunteers from Seva Bharathi, where the members of YIFA have also performed their duties. The food kits contain all the necessary items required for everyday life such as: salt, sugar, rice, pulses, sambar powder, coffee powder; along with vegetables such as onion and potatoes. It also includes essentials such as soaps, washing powder, toothpaste etc.
“We focus on people who are in quarantine or home isolation. They become our first priority, where if a patient would need medicine, one of the volunteers would go to the medical shop and get it delivered as they are unable to go out.” The team has also been successful in distributing 2 oxygen concentrators for the taluk, and looks forward to getting 15 more as a precautionary measure. He also says that the food kits are verified and cross-checked again before distributing to the people, as they wouldn’t go waste.
“Deep down, I am indeed proud of my team members who have been working constantly to support the people around them. It’s a situation where one would be scared to even step out of the house. It can also be quite hard for me at times, as I isolate myself from my parents and my other family members. But we just have to move forward confidently.” The team has also served a kashaaya, a decoction of ginger and pepper to the various constables and other police officials along the checkpost of the region.
Moreover, the team’s main goal is to support the agricultural industry and activities, who have volunteered in other social activities such as helping the affected on site during the 2019 Belgaum floods. What’s more interesting, is that the team comes out with a yearly paddy sampling activity where people who are unaware of growing a paddy plant are taken to the field to have an experience of nature and to learn how the yield is grown. President Shreenidhi says that they look forward to calling around 30 people during the next season of planting them, along with offering the fun experience of tourism of Coorg. More power to the team!
