Relu Vasave who belongs to Nashik and has grown up seeing the Narmada river is adapted to swimming, unlike her husband. She borrowed a boat from a local fisherman and started visiting 25 newborn babies and 7 expecting mothers from the hamlets of Aligat and Dadar since April so that they do not miss out on their proper medical care and nutrition.
Relu being an Anganwadi member is suppose to keep checking the weight, health, and proper growth of children under 6 years of age and expecting mothers.
As per a report of TOI, Relu said, “Usually the families and children travel to the Anganwadi by boat to collect food but ever since the lockdown was announced tribal from this two hamlets across the Narmada River stopped visiting her out of fear of the virus.”
Relu after completing her work in the morning in the Anganwadi which is located in the remote village Chimalkhadi in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. Then she sets sail alone in the afternoon to visit hamlets with food supplements, baby weighing machine, etc. Sometimes she is accompanied by her relative Sangita who is also an Anganwadi worker. After the boat ride, she has to trek up the hilly terrain to reach the hamlets.
She said that “It is not easy to row every day. My hands pain by the time I am back home in the evening. But that doesn’t worry me. It’s important that babies and expecting mothers eat nutritious food and remain healthy. I will keep visiting these hamlets till things improve on the COVID front.”
She is receiving praise from the tribal people for her selfless effort she did during this pandemic for them. Her extraordinary work has finally reached the CM’s office and Chief executive of the Nandurbar Zilla Parishad where she was personally praised for her great work on the CM’s behalf.
Image Credits: PuneMirror, Mumbai Mirror
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