This 82-year-old man’s contribution to fighting coronavirus has moved the nation
The Kolkata-based octogenarian made a contribution of Rs 10,000 from the money saved from his pension to the PM-CARES Fund
The COVID-19 situation in India is increasing in its gravity by the day with over 11,487 cases across the country. Many people are coming forward and making their contribution, either in kind or cash, to help cope with the pandemic.
And among many citizens is an 82-year-old man from Kolkata who touched the hearts of everyone who heard his story. The retired college professor stays alone in a flat behind the Dum Dum International airport and survives on his monthly pension.
On Saturday, Subhash Chandra Banerjee waved down from his window to the officers, who thought he needed some help, especially in the time of such a crisis.
82-year-old Subhash Chandra Banerjee
“We had initially thought he was in some kind of distress, and we went there thinking that he wanted help,” said an officer who was part of the patrol team from the Airport Police Station that falls under the Bidhannagar Commissionerate, as reported by The Telegraph India.
The professor invited them inside and asked them to be seated. Upon asking the reason for seeking help from the police officers, the man said that he wanted to contribute money to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The officers were taken aback by this gesture, and immediately contacted senior officials who advised them that the old man should contribute to the PM-CARES Fund.
He contributed Rs 10,000 to the PM-CARES Fund from the money he had saved from his pension.
“I wanted to contribute more as each one of us should step forward in order to help combat this situation. However, I spend most of my pension to buy medicines that I have to take regularly,” the octogenarian told The Telegraph.
The incident drew the attention of many on social media platforms. Navniet Sekera, an IPS officer based in Uttar Pradesh, tweeted about the incident, saluting the man’s kindness.
BJP leader Sunil V. Deodhar also retweeted on his twitter page, commending the 82-year-old.
Globally, the number of positive cases of coronavirus has increased to almost two million, with about 126,741 deaths.
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Edited by Suman Singh