As India continues to battle against the second catastrophic wave of coronavirus pandemic, people are leaving no stone
unturned to extend help to those in need.
As most of the states in India enforced lockdown to break the transmission chain of the virus, people especially those who had contracted the infection find it hard to step out of the home to purchase the necessary commodities for them.
However, now the Covid victims based in Chennai will not have to worry much about it as a group of cyclists in the city is on their toes to serve mankind in whatever possible way they could.
Relief Riders-a group of cyclists risks themselves to heat and infection as they had developed a community to help people in buying groceries and other essentials.
It may be noted here that the Relief Riders started their service on May 3 with an aim to reach out to the elderly and other vulnerable groups such as the physically challenged and others who cannot step out of the home.
When a media house asked the pioneers of the movement, Bicycle Mayor of Chennai Felix John, and Kawin Kumaran, director of Street matrix and a member of the group informed the media house that they launched this initiative to help those worse-affected by the pandemic. Also, it solves the twin purpose as we are able to promote cycling for better and healthy living too.
Moreover, the service provided by the Relief Riders is voluntary and they are not charging a penny for this except the money to pay for groceries or essentials, said Felix, who has been named as Bicycle Mayor of Chennai by BYCA, an Amsterdam-based social enterprise is driven by the belief that bicycles transform cities and cities transform the world.
Divulging the details of their working Felix said as the summers arrived, heat is unbearable. And to get some respite from it, we deliver the grocery and other essentials before 11 am and after 4 pm. According to Kawin, who has also worked with the state government in projects pertaining to transportation, asserted that “initially it was hard to keep track of records as it was coming from social media.”
Moreover, as the case load is increasing “we are planning to launch an app soon to ensure the smooth work-flow, “ Kawin said.
However, it is not the
first time that Relief Riders are helping people amidst the Covid Crisis.
Before this when the floods hit the city, they started to support mankind
then. Also, in the first lockdown, the group was actively working for the relief
of victims in Bengaluru.
"But in Chennai, it was activated now," says Felix.