Bengaluru: Cured transport staffers roped in to motivate patients

BENGALURU: Transport agencies including South Western Railway (SWR), BMTC and KSRTC, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, are roping in staffers who have recovered from the infection to motivate others.
SWR for example has created a WhatsApp group of those who are recovering and those who have successfully battled the virus and monitors progress frequently, while also motivating those battling the disease.
V Basavaraju, Chikkaballapur KSRTC division Controller recently visited a Covid Care Centre in Chintamani taluk to receive discharged employees by giving a bouquet.
Ashok Kumar Verma, divisional railway manager (DRM), said, “On Sunday, an online session was held to check on treatment, how fast staff are recovering, whether they are facing any issues, to motivate them to do yoga and other breathing exercises as advised by doctors and to generally keep them in good spirits.”
Debasmita Chattopadhyay Banerjee, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF, said: “We have a 59-year-old assistant sub-inspector, who fought Covid-19, and recovered in five days. He was a heart patient too. He motivates our staff and speaks about how he fought Covid-19.”
Around 40 RPF staff have been infected and four have recovered, while SWR records show 345 staff and family members have been infected and 175 have recovered. Banerjee said all her staff are asymptomatic and are in Covid Care Centres not hospitals. “There is a social stigma so mental strength is very important,” she said. BMTC has reported 210 cases so far and 164 have been discharged. BMTC managing director C Shikha said: “We have a robust support system. Once a case is recorded, a message is sent to the depot, division and the central office contacts the patient to provide assistance.”
KSRTC reported 304 cases and 203 have been discharged. V Basavaraju, Chikkaballapur division controller recently visited a Covid Care Centre in Chintamani taluk to fete discharged employees. “The division arranged a bus for employees leaving hospitals to travel to their hometowns,” KSRTC said. Basavaraju addressed employees saying their confidence gives strength to other patients.