Mumbai: Following the complete lockdown in Maharashtra, two days ago, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had asked citizens not to panic, asking them to reach out to him on social media in case of any difficulty.
Virali Modi, a physically challenged resident of Malad west, who lives by herself, took him up on the offer, reaching out to him on Twitter thus: “I’m disabled and I live alone, I need my maid who cooks and does other physiological care for me.
Due to the virus, she won’t be able to come. What do we do about these situations?” Deshmukh swung into action immediately and got his team to alert the local police station about the 25-year-old's predicament.
Accordingly, Inspector George Fernandes and his team from the local police station rushed there within 25 minutes of her tweet, to inquire about her well-being. Modi said she was surprised by the quick response. “The police team which arrived was extremely courteous and polite.
They heard me out and understood my situation,” she said. Arrangements were then made to facilitate co-ordination with her domestic help and driver.
“We gave curfew passes to both, Ms Modi's help and driver, so that they can travel back and forth from work, after speaking to my seniors,” said Inspector Fernandes, who admitted the team was moved to be called in for this humane cause. Modi thanked them profusely for their help. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said: “
Yes. I understand we are in the middle of an unprecedented health crisis because of the CoVID-19 pandemic. But we cannot forget our humanitarian values, can we? The state government is committed to help out anyone who reaches out to us with a genuine problem.”
He was all praise for PI Fernandes and his team, for their prompt response. “That is the image we want of Maharashtra Police. Prompt in their crackdown on bad elements and equally prompt in helping citizens in need.”
