In crisis, Lucknow's ‘karuna’ for elderly, cabbies

LUCKNOW: With people avoiding public places due to novel coronavirus outbreak, autorickshaw and cab drivers are facing the brunt of the situation. Elderly people living by themselves are also facing a challenge as they are forced to stay indoors.
Amid all caution, Lucknow residents have taken to social media to appeal to citizens to help drivers of e-rickshaws and cabs and street vendors by giving them extra money, spare sanitisers and raising awareness among them about the virus.
Some have taken to social media to appeal to citizens to help people who need medicines and groceries.
Abhishek Agarwal, who initiated the movement ‘give joy, not panic’, has now been joined by several people urging others to give paid leave to their domestic workers and help street vendors and drivers by giving them extra pay as they suffer a slump in business.
“The driver of the e-rickshaw I took was continuously telling me how passenger numbers have fallen in the past week. He even broke down in tears and said it had become difficult for him to buy grocery as his wife and children wait at home. E1mpathising with the situation, I gave him an extra Rs 100. It was a small help, but many around the city are in the same predicament,” said the 24-year-old.
The entrepreneur posted his experience on Instagram urging people to do the same.
Shalini Kanaujia shared that she thanked her food delivery person for his services in these times. “The least we can do is be polite to delivery persons, be patient with them if they take extra time and help them a little,” she added.
Krishnanagar resident Rishi Raj distributed masks among a few cab drivers.
Akshay Kapoor posted on Instagram how people could offer food delivery people hand sanitisers or soap and water to wash their hands.
Hazratganj resident Meha Gupta posted on a Facebook public page asking citizens to send a message to her if they need any kind of assistance.
In Vikasnagar, Mohammad Mohtashim Warsi also came forward to do the same.