Angul: There was a time when Chinmayee Das was scorned upon for being a transgender.
Now, Chinmayee is a popular name in Jarapada area near Odisha’s Angul district, having dedicated herself to the service of coronavirus-affected families.
Previously Gagan Bihari Das, who hailed from Poshei village in Jagatsinghpur, he completed Class X. But after developing feminine qualities, he was ridiculed and teased by friends and relatives alike.
That forced him to leave his native village and shift to Jarapada. Thereafter, Chinmayee has earned her bread through a ladies’ corner. And once the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she decided to devote herself to people’s service.
The transgender has to date consigned to flames mortal remains of over 20 coronavirus victims.
Hatakishore Sarangi, a resident of Angul, said she has shared her mobile number on social media so that people can contact her for the cremation of bodies. Chinmayee waits for calls and as soon as she gets one swiftly gets out of home donning PPE kits, Sarangi added.
Sudeep Pradhan, another resident of Angul, said Chinmayee is an animal lover also. She has made arrangement for providing water to wild animals in nearby forest locations during the summer season, Pradhan added. He said Chinmayee has contributed her bit towards a liquor-free society by spearheading a campaign against hooch trade in the locality.
At a time when people are scared to go near a COVID-affected person, no praise can be too high for Chinmayee’s humane and fearless gesture.
According to locals, Chinmayee is more than an ASHA and Anganwadi worker as she goes from place to place in the district to create awareness on coronavirus among people. More significantly, she is always prepared to help patients and their families who are struggling to come to terms with the deadly virus.
“This is the right time to serve the people who are in distress. I have taken all precautions to keep the deadly coronavirus at bay,” says Chinmayee, who never misses a call from hospitals to serve patients.
