Mumbai: Covid yatra across India to raise awareness and funds

MUMBAI: Across the country in 60 days, packing in an awareness campaign about Covid-19, recording the impact on people and communities and conducting a donation drive for the needy. That sums up the mission of three socially conscious citizens who reached Mumbai over the weekend after covering 19 states and 16,000 km by road. The trio met doctors and dabbawalas as well as differently abled children from Save the Children India.
“We were impressed by the dabbawalas and their spirit of serving Mumbai.Sadly, they are struggling to make a living in these trying times,” said Siddhartha Dutta, 40. Mumbai-based Dutta has embarked on the unique 25,000-km journey in a specially modified car with team members, Ahmer Siddiqui, 40, from Delhi, a driving enthusiast, and Agra resident Neha Chaturvedi, 33, who is a painter. Chaturvedi is also making a documentary on the trip. “We have travelled along the China and Nepal borders in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kolkata, Sikkim, the Bhutan border in Jaigaon (West Bengal), Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, as well as Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Odisha, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa before entering Maharashtra,” said Dutta.
Speaking about their interaction with the team, Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box suppliers’ charity trust president Ulhas Muke, said, “We had a candid conversation and they listened to our grievances about how Covid has badly hit our dabbawalas. It’s a hand-to-mouth existence for some, while others are unable to pay house rents and provide for their families.”
Siddiqui says the idea is to stay on the road in their specially retrofitted car, aptly named ‘Road Ashram’. “Through our 60-day drive on bumpy and broken roads along the borders, we wish to raise awareness and resources to help people facing difficulties due to the pandemic. We will also share videos and stories that reflect India’s diverse cultures, places and everything else that makes the country what it is.” Dutta said the pandemic has altered social structures with several losing their jobs. “We are gathering case studies of people impacted by Covid,” he said. The campaign is expected to conclude in Delhi on December 15.