Times are tough, the crisis is huge and the disease is a contagion in nature. Still, there is a hope in all of us that this too shall pass. In the past few days, we have seen many real-life heroes who not caring for their own life, delivered relief to people and families battling Covid-19. Similarly, we have a story of Munmun Sarkar, Siliguri’s first ever Female Toto driver who also becomes the first driver to ferry Coronavirus patients for free to the hospitals in emergency and later back to the home.
This-48-years old lady, a resident of Shaktigarh, Siliguri, West Bengal is winning hearts when her picture first surfaced the internet on 25th of August after a customer clicked and made it viral.
Munmun is Siliguri’s first Toto driver and after her notable work, she is receiving appreciation from everyone who is reading her story. When the COVID-19 began, she started first by delivering essentials like groceries and medicines to the Coronavirus infected patients and families who are home quarantined. Taking her work, a step ahead now, she refused to charge any sum to the patients infected with the virus.
“Most drivers refuse to carry Covid-19 patients out of fear of catching the infection. Even ambulances charge huge amounts. Those who have recovered from Covid-19 and have tested negative also find it difficult to arrange transport to go home.” Munmun said in an interview with The Telegraph India.
“I realized many were not in a position to pay at a time like this, amid all their expenses and stress. That is why I decided not to charge fares from any passengers who is infected or has just been cured.” She added
So far, she with her much appreciated work in the town, has ferried more than 100 Covid-19 patients to the hospital and back to the home free of cost. And surprisingly she does all this with proper precautions. A sum of extra 3000 Rs gets added in her expenses each time she carries a Covid-19 patient which includes sanitization of the vehicle, a PPE Kit, thermal testing gun and other stuff that prevent the virus to spread while she is driving. She makes sure that the vehicle is sanitized twice a day and enough PPE kits remain extra at her disposal.
Work Munmun is doing is exceptionally praiseworthy. A disease which is not just contagion in nature but also has a stigma attached to it makes it difficult for any healthy person to go near a Covid-19 patient and help him. In such times a woman like her not just ferries Coronavirus patients but does everything on her own expenses without even charging a penny and TSA salutes such souls.
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