As the Covid 19 second wave hit India in March, 2021, while Government, private and social service organisations scrambled to provide healthcare services across the nation, they were supported by the unique efforts of thousands of individuals who stepped up to the challenge. Young Kolkata based budding cricketer, Sidhant Khemka is one such young individual who was moved by the ongoing effects of the pandemic and quietly took up the challenge to do his bit to save lives.
Sidhant, a
student of Class 9 of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, had seen the effects of Covid
19 up close and personal and knew what hundreds of families were going
through. “A few months ago, members of
my family were detected Covid positive including my grandfather, uncle, aunt, cousin
brother and my mother. We come from a close knit joint family and all this was
very disturbing for us. Especially, seeing my mother being taken to the
hospital was a very difficult moment for me and my younger sister”, said the young
boy. While eventually the family members recovered and returned home, it sowed
the seeds of taking some action for other patients in his mind.
“When the
effects of the second wave become overwhelming, all I could see on TV and
around me were news of people who were struggling for oxygen across the city.
We had so many known people who were desperate for oxygen cylinders and oxygen
concentrators and many couldn’t simply afford it.”. As the numbers were
shooting up and going through the roof, Sidhant also came across various social
organisations who were donating money, equipment or food. “I read about NGOs, business
houses, sportsmen, celebrities and community groups who were coming together to
provide help. I was not sure how I could help but I really wanted to do my bit”
the young sportsman added. The young
lad, who learns cricket professionally, is a huge fan of Sachin and Virat and
considers them role models.
“I then started
reading about what oxygen concentrators are and how these were helping
patients. I felt that while I could not go out and physically help people, I
could atleast raise money to buy one and donate it to someone. Even if I could
help one family or one person, it would mean a lot to me”, he mentioned. He
then approached his parents, Vivek, a senior corporate executive and Ritu, a
homemaker, with the idea. They encouraged him to reach out to close family and
friends first. “We were touched when he came to us and we only advised him not
to ask for an exorbitant amount from any individual since everyone was going
through their own crisis”, his mother added. “I reached out to friends and
their parents and even my teachers. Everyone was very helpful and wanted to
contribute”. Sidhant, eventually, raised
close to 65,000 Rs from more than 25 people over the course of a few days. He
then approached a pan India social service organisation and offered to donate
the amount if they were willing to buy an oxygen concentrator machine. The
organisation run by the Jain community was pleasantly surprised to see what the
14 year old Kolkata resident had single handedly achieved. The amount was used to procure a 5 LPM
concentrator and was put into use by the organisation immediately.
“I know that
there are thousands of people working towards saving the lives of patients
across India. I just knew that I also had to help since every bit contributes”,
said the young student
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