Now the situation of coronavirus in quite under control in Nagpur district. Now there is no dearth of oxygen cylinder, beds are available in ample number. But a month ago situation was totally different. No beds were available, there was dearth of medicine, oxygen cylinders were exhausting within an hour of the arrival of stock. People had a confusion whom to approach. And then a man stood up and fixed up responsibility on self. Probably he must have read the quote by Lowell- ‘They are slaves who dare not be in the right with two or three’ and so he alone took an initiative of providing oxygen cylinders. He kept procuring cylinder by paying from his own pockets and reached the families who needed oxygen cylinders. This man provided them the cylinders and saved several 100 lives in Nagpur. Shripad Borikar, popularly known as Chhotu Borikar is a ‘Dabang’ social worker of Nagpur till now has reached over 150 families who were in dire need of oxygen cylinders.

 

He paid an amount to those from whom he procured cylinders, from his own pocket. He had only one aim-- reach the needy with the cylinder. Thats all! “Everybody experienced what had happened during corona’s first wave. The active cases were less, so beds were available, nobody faced any problem of oxygen then. But second wave was something bizarre. People were running here and there for want of beds, oxygen. I witnessed some deaths for want of oxygen. That brought tears to my eyes.

 

There I strongly felt that I must do something. I came out and started approaching everybody whom I know, got cylinders and reached the needy at their homes,” narrated Chhotya Borikar. Considering the worst situation of pandemic, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through ‘Sevankur’ project started providing services to the society. Name of Chhotya was in the list of Sevankur. People read his name and started calling him for the help. Procuring cylinders during that period was a bit difficult. But Chhotya got the cylinders for which he got help from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and some friends from abroad. Chhotya did it single-handedly initially and gradually people started joining him. He admitted, “Amit Khot, Sachin Ingole, Vinod Mude worked with me and are still working. I also thank joint Commissioner Mukul Patil and his team of officers. M/s R and Y Logistics Pvt Ltd carried out Government related requirement.” Carrying oxygen cylinder is not the only work. It is not like cooking cylinder that is kept at home replacing with the empty one. Carrying oxygen cylinder to the home, fix it at home, teach the family members how to use it, is the whole process involved in it. Chhotya took a special training for the same and then reached each and every home. His job was more challenging in the sense, most families have only senior citizens so explaining them was very difficult. But Chhotya did it with patience.

 

Most apartments are old and don’t have lift. But that hasn’t deterred Chhotya’s zeal to reach the home. Taking cylinder on the shoulder and reaching home remained his only aim. “I can’t say I am satisfied. But I must admit, it gives us immense pleasure when we really do for the society without any expectations. I and our team of LokmangaI Foundation shall pray God that such situation should not take place. In case still people face any problem we shall be ready to dedicate ourselves for the cause,” said Chhotya Borikar.