As India continues to battle against the second catastrophic wave of coronavirus pandemic, people are leaving no stoneunturned to extend help to those in need.
As most of the states in India enforced lockdownto break the transmission chain of the virus, people especially those who hadcontracted the infection find it hard to step out of the home to purchase thenecessary commodities for them.
However, now the Covid victims based inChennai will not have to worry much about it as a group of cyclists in the cityis on their toes to serve mankind in whatever possible way they could.
Relief Riders-a group of cyclists risksthemselves to heat and infection as they had developed a community to helppeople in buying groceries and other essentials.
It may be noted here that the Relief Ridersstarted their service on May 3 with an aim to reach out to the elderly and othervulnerable groups such as the physically challenged and others who cannot stepout of the home.
When a media house asked the pioneers of themovement, Bicycle Mayor of Chennai Felix John, and Kawin Kumaran, director of Street matrix and a member of the groupinformed the media house that they launched this initiative to help thoseworse-affected by the pandemic. Also, it solves the twin purpose as we areable to promote cycling for better and healthy living too.
Moreover, the serviceprovided by the Relief Riders is voluntary and they are not charging a pennyfor this except the money to pay for groceries or essentials, said Felix, whohas been named as Bicycle Mayor of Chennai by BYCA, an Amsterdam-based socialenterprise is driven by the belief that bicycles transform cities and citiestransform the world.
Divulging the details oftheir working Felix said as the summers arrived, heat is unbearable. And to getsome respite from it, we deliver the grocery and other essentials before 11 amand after 4 pm. According to Kawin, who has also worked with the state governmentin projects pertaining to transportation, asserted that “initially it was hardto keep track of records as it was coming from social media.”
Moreover, as the caseload is increasing “we are planning to launch an app soon to ensure the smoothwork-flow, “ Kawin said.
However, it is not thefirst time that Relief Riders are helping people amidst the Covid Crisis.Before this when the floods hit the city, they started to support mankindthen. Also, in the first lockdown, the group was actively working for the reliefof victims in Bengaluru.
"But in Chennai, itwas activated now," says Felix.