Auto drivers overcome odds to serve people amid pandemic
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Two autorickshaw drivers have devoted their time and vitality to ferrying sufferers to and from the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital. The drivers say they exit of their means to assist the needy throughout these attempting instances, charging solely nominal fares.
Notwithstanding the stress of fulfilling household wants, P. Karthi, a debt-ridden, middle-aged man, continues serving the general public even when his philanthropic mentality has meant the re-possession of his autorickshaw by his creditor. He now makes use of a rental automobile to ferry sufferers.
The different driver, S. Manikandan, misplaced his spouse to COVID-19-induced problems final yr. “She was being treated for lung cancer when she was diagnosed with the infection,” he stated.
He ferried her from Tiruchi to Madurai for remedy in his autorickshaw as he was unable to afford an ambulance, however to no avail. Six months after her loss of life, he returned to ferry sufferers dealing with comparable struggles.
Patients referred to COVID Care Centres, those that have been discharged, attenders and people trying to find beds in personal hospitals are ferried in these automobiles. The passengers pay how a lot ever they’ll afford.
The drivers make a minimum of 10 journeys every a day, incomes solely about ₹1,000, of which a minimum of 50% is spent on gas. “We do not do this for profit. We need some money to sustain our families but other than that, we are looking to help in our own way,” Mr. Manikandan stated.
In spite of their good deeds, they’re troubled by different autorickshaw drivers, they alleged. “There is an autorickshaw stand right outside the government hospital. These men chase us away and charge the patients exorbitant fares. We have to take patients while trying to keep them off our backs,” Mr. Karthi stated.
The duo can be wanting to get automobile passes from the district administration for his or her service. “We are stopped by the police and do not usually have any documents to show that we are ferrying patients. It would be wonderful if they can help us,” Mr. Karthi stated.
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