Mumbaikars who joined police force to fight COVID-19 share their experience

Last week the Mumbai police roped in civilians to help fight the ongoing pandemic According to reports over 8000 people have joined the fold as part of the voluntary service after the police issued certificates of appointment under Sections 21 1 2 B of the Maharashtra Police Act 1951 From patrolling areas and helping with nakabandi to ensuring that people do not step out of their residential premises the duties depend on the need of the localityBhendi BazaarlsquoTrying to make citizens respect copsrsquoMohammed Naushad Qureshi teacherA teacher at BJPC High School in Charni Road 45yearold Mohammed Naushad Qureshirsquos duties are centred in areas around Dongri JJ Hospital and Bhendi BazaarMohammed Naushad Qureshi seen on duty PicPradeep DhivarldquoSince it is Ramzan people tend to step out for shopping so we have been making appeals to them via masjids and through religious heads to stay at homerdquo The message is clear staying home is the right thing to do because doing so helps prevent COVID19 transmission ldquoWe have noticed that sometimes people are disrespectful and violent towards lawenforcement personnel so we try to make them understand that they are risking their lives for us The police also have families back home but they are out on the streets trying to keep us saferdquo There are no stipulated work hours for him It all depends on when help is needed Qureshirsquos tryst with social work began when he became involved in a collective called Citizen Front which would operate during the month of RamzanDharavilsquoWe are trying to get people to stop spittingrsquoTheatre artist Santosh Limbore and advocate Manjula KathirvelSince the Coronavirus outbreak in March 2020 theatre artist Santosh Limbore has been helping the Dharavi police craft voiceovers ldquoThese are essentially COVID19 precautionary announcements that I record over the phone and send to the police who use it on loudspeakers while patrolling in the areardquoManjula Kathirvel has been on field acting as a mediator for Tamilian migrantsTen days ago when the police officially sought his services Limbore was more than happy to oblige With theatrical performances taking a hit due to the pandemic protocols the 45yearold says he has time on hand to devote all his energy to social causes His duties now involve visiting every tenement in the area that falls under his purview and checking if the COVID19 patients require any assistance medical or otherwise and informing the police or the BMC accordingly ldquoApart from this we are also trying to make people understand that spitting in public is not just unhygienic but dangerous Spitting can cause the spread of COVID19 as the saliva of an infected person can carry the virus for more than 24 hours It needs a change in thinking and it will only work if the messaging is constantrdquo With the situation spiralling out of control in the rest of the country Limbore says therersquos a lot of fear among residents because itrsquos a slum area ldquoWe tell them to avoid venturing too far from home If they need essentials buy it at one go instead of making multiple tripsrdquoManjula Kathirvel an advocate working in close association with police authorities lives near Chota Sion Hospital Since the lockdown Kathirvel has been on the field acting as a mediator for Tamilian migrants in Mumbai who do not understand the local language ldquoWe distributed Kashayam a water decoction of herbs used for ailments like indigestion cough and common coldrdquo She says with a population of over 10 lakh in Dharavi therersquos danger of it becoming a hotbed of infection if not controlled ldquoItrsquos not easy because an average of eight to 10 members live in a small tenement They sit outside because the house does not have space for all This is why you have to handle the situation with tactmdashyou have to be friendly and patient with them Using authority alone wonrsquot workrdquo Presently Kathirvel has been goading residents to sign up for vaccination ldquoItrsquos one of my top priorities at the momentrdquoMIDC Andheri EastlsquoPeople cooperate because they know usrsquoAvinash Bhagwat former journalistAvinash Bhagwat is a member of Jeevan Jyot Pratishthan an Andheribased NGO that operates in the area of education literacy health and nutrition On a weekday morning when we phone Bhagwat for an interview he is in the midst of arranging hospital beds and remdesivir for patients ldquoIrsquove already received four calls for the injection but the situation is so dire that itrsquos hard to land even a single onerdquo Avinash Bhagwat is seen helping the Andheri police with nakabandi in the MIDC area PicSameer MarkandeThe former journalist says the police have consciously roped in citizens who have experience in the field of social work as the job involves working closely with communities on ground Along with him three other citizens Niketan Shivalkar Shivmurti Varde and Sachin Bagve are currently working in the Andheri East areaWhile they have a badge to show that they are working with the police Bhagwat says locals already know them because they have been working in the field so they cooperate ldquoWe speak with shopkeepers to help with free home deliveries for ailing residents who are unable to step out During nakabandi we help the police ensure all COVID19 protocols are followed because they are already overworked and overstretchedrdquo he says adding that an important part of the job is also inspiring confidence among people that they will recover soon