Paradip: You don’t have to be a celebrity to support a cause or spread awareness. While celebrities do it for money, this fruit vendor does it simply because he has the good of the people in his heart. What is more, he spends money from his own pocket.
Bharat Nath, who sells fruits in this port town has taken upon himself to raise awareness among people about the latest public health threat COVID-19. “Bharat Ku Bharat Chinta” (Bharat is always concerned about Bharat or India), he says. It goes without saying that he is the talk of the town.
The 61-year-old fruit vendor from Kujang block not only speaks to his customers and locals about taking appropriate safeguards but also distributes leaflets and newspaper cuttings on dos and don’ts for the prevention of the disease.
He has even put up posters in the town on precautions and preventive measures against the virus. Paradip is vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the entry of foreigners and crew members of ships coming in from various parts of the world.
Bharat sits on the roadside and hands over educational literature to passersby while advising them to adopt proper practices like correct ways of sneezing or coughing, regular hand washing and wearing mask as per the standard operating procedures issued by health agencies.
This is not the first time that Bharat has embarked on such a mission. The Class II passout has raised issues of national importance with people and authorities.
