Trying as the circumstances may be due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, people continue to fight in their own way and ability. Take the case of Pusram Sinha of Chhattisgarh and Shardamma from Karnataka, both senior citizens who have donated from their pension for helping people at this critical time.

Donating a ventilator and other medical equipment

At 70, for Pusram Sinha, his pension is a cushion which he can always look to and fall back. Yet, he felt that a better use of his saved pension money would be possible by investing it for a greater cause instead of going for a retirement investment plan.

Talking to New Indian Express, he said: “I have lived my life. What will I do with the pension amount now lying in the bank?”, he said. So Sinha went on to withdraw Rs 3.5 lakh to buy a mini-ventilator machine and couple of other essential equipment and gave them to the Government hospital at Berla in Bemetara district located in Chhattisgarh.

What made his gesture of donating these life-saving equipment even more inspiring is the fact that he did so in the memory of his parents.

“There cannot be the better use of the pension if such savings can be of some assistance or support in saving life. So, I decided to purchase a mini-ventilator”, said Sinha.

Appreciating his noble gesture and generosity, the doctors at the Government Hospital said that there has always been high demand for such machines as it is critically required for patients admitted in the intensive care units (ICU). Likewise, they said, these machines are also necessary for patients experiencing respiratory problem or whose oxygen saturation level found below 90.

With wasting any time, the ventilator was Immediately put into use for a needy patient in the hospital.

The Bemetara Collector, Shiv Anant Tayal, talking about the pensioner’s action observed: “Sinhaji’s humanitarian contribution will always be remembered by the people here, considering the fact that the fight against the Covid outbreak continues.”

Food for the isolated

In what can be best described as a heartening gesture, a 70-year-old grandmother donated her savings from her widow pension for the Covid Care Centre. This Centre is located in the KR Pet taluk of Mandya district in Karnataka.

Hailing from Heeralahalli, Shardamma, handed over Rs 10,000 to Shivamurthy, the tahsildar with explicit instructions to arrange and provide snacks to those in isolation, at the Covid Care Centre.

Her this action has now become the talk of the town with both the villagers and the officials appreciating her for this liberal donation.

Shardamma handing over food for the Coronavirus patients

This gesture of generosity is not a singular one on part of Shardamma. In the first wave of Coronavirus pandemic, when the infection hit the district hard, she had without any fanfare given Rs.10,000 to Shivamurthy, appealing him to provide biscuits and juice to those admitted in the Covid Care Centre in Hosaholalu and Shettynayanakana Koppalu.

Shardamma brought snacks and juice bottles and handed them over to the officers to be distributed among the 200 people in the centre, wished them a speedy recovery and prayed for their health.

When NIE asked Shardamma about her actions she said that right from childhood, her parents had taught her to help people in trouble. “I have tried to follow in the footsteps of my parents, and only love and service can win the hearts of the people.”

Lauding Shardamma for her service and sharing her savings from widow pension, the tahsildar described her as a role model. Hoping that she will inspired others, he appealed to the public to chip in with generous donations and join hands to fight Covid.