74-yr old distributing masks from his pension
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 16: When the entire world, including India, is facing unprecedented threat because of Coronavirus and the health warriors against COVID-19 are leaving no stone unturned to save the human lives, the efforts in fight against the deadly pandemic are getting extra ordinary contribution from some individuals, who have invited cheers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In two separate tweets today, PM Modi has lauded 74-year old Yog Raj Mengi from Reasi, who has been distributing masks made by him from his monthly pension and Jammu’s twin sisters, Saibaa and Saisha, spreading awareness on defeating Coronavirus.
Click here to watch video
“Proud of citizens like him. They are adding so much might in the battle against COVID-19,” posts the PM while re-tweeting a tweet of Prasar Bharti New Service, which says, “Yog Raj Mengi, a 74- year old pensioner from Reasi has distributed over 6000 masks made by him from his monthly pension. He is now distributing free ration also.”
The PM’s tweet has further encouraged elderly Yog Raj Mengi, who has virtually devoted his life for social works and service to humanity, particularly after his retirement as Draftsman in the Public Works Department of J&K Government.
While living with his wife and two married sons at Main Bazar Reasi, Yog Raj has been devoting his maximum time for the social works and even before the COVID-19 outbreak, he was distributing home made masks to the Safai Karamcharis.
“Around 150 to 200 masks are being distributed daily after getting these stitched and properly sanitized,” he told the Excelsior while adding that the women engaged for stitching and preparing the masks are mostly economically and socially backward, who are paid for the job from his pension. “I purchase the required cloth from market and after getting the masks stitched, the same are properly washed with soap, soaked in Dettol and well sanitized before the distribution among people,” he elaborated.
Spending his maximum pension on such social works and helping others, the elderly man said that he would continue to distribute the masks till the end of COVID-19 pandemic. “Since childhood, the passion to serve my Nation and the society is in my blood and I will continue to do this service till my last breath,” said Mr Mengi, who is also associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its social activities.
He felt delighted and encouraged over the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet appreciating his work.
In another tweet, PM Modi also appreciated twin sisters Saibaa Gupta and Saisha Gupta of Jammu for raising awareness against COVID-19 through their self composed songs.
On his twitter handle, the PM tweeted video of an awareness song composed and sung by the twin sisters and wrote: “Proud of youngsters like Saibaa and Saisha Gupta. They are raising awareness on defeating the coronavirus.”
Both Saibaa and Saisha were in an upbeat mood and felt encouraged on PM tweeting their video, which they had uploaded on the YouTube.
The sisters, who are studying in Presentation Convent Senior Secondary School Gandhi Nagar and have recently appeared in the class 10th examinations, said that they felt people panicking and living in fear because of COVID-19, which prompted them to compose the song spreading awareness in fight against the deadly virus.
“Many people still not wear masks, do not follow the advisories and therefore we decided to pen down this lyrics, composed the music, sung the song and later made a video, which contained clips showing mass awareness on the pandemic,” they said.
The said video was seen by hundreds of people and was greatly appreciated. Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh also called the family and appreciate their effort as a different way of spreading awareness on COVID-19 on social media.
The girls’ mother, Dr Sweety Gupta, said, “being a doctor, I tried to guide them and it clicked but the biggest moment today is that their video has been tweeted by the Prime Minister.” Their father, Dr Rohit Gupta, also said that they had never thought that the video would be liked and tweeted by the Prime Minister. He also appealed to the people to follow the guidelines and spoke about the requests made by his daughters in the song, asserting that we have to collectively fight against Coronavirus.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
