Filmmaker Mayuraa Raghavendra has been at the forefront of helping generate COVID resources by being a bridge between those who want to help and those who need it. We recently caught up with him over a live chat, during which he shared his journey and experiences during the pandemic.
Talking about how it all began, Mayuraa recalls, "Last year, a friend of mine was helping serve hot food to 80-100 people and I accompanied them for a day. I then began accompanying them more often. Over a period of three months, we had a 35-member strong team and fed about a lakh people on a daily basis with multiple meals throughout the day."
Problems arising from the pandemic, like hunger, can be stopped if dealt with in the right way, he opines. "If social media is used in the right way, it can be very helpful. Last year, we posted pictures of our efforts and called for help and donations. We did have reservations and suggestions about not putting those photographs, but decided to share them anyway for people who wanted to help. Many of my celebrity friends did share funds and others even stepped in for on-ground help. Using social media, we raised around Rs 16.5 lakh, which helped feed a lot of people," shares Mayuraa.
While he was out on the field in the first wave, Mayuraa has been working in a different way in the second wave. "This time around, we have been using the help of delivery apps to send grocery kits to the needy. We began raising funds and sent kits to 200 people who were in need. Actors Anupama Gowda and Raaghava volunteered to even drop them off to the people. We posted pictures to document what is being done with the money that has been raised. We then got requests from places outside Bengaluru, like Mysuru, Hubballi and other areas. We have helped around 1,000 families over the past few weeks," he reveals.
Meals and grocery supplies apart, Mayuraa also helped families of COVID patients with resources earlier this year. "I was tagged in posts seeking help with resources for treatment. Initially, I just shared and amplified those posts. Over time, we realised that we needed to check the validity of information. Several of my friends readily agreed to help out and around 40 people began working round-the-clock to verify information. We would not stop till we found the resource that we were looking for. Some of my friends forgot their celebrity status and began working relentlessly," he recalls, adding, "At one point we began to be clinical when dealing with news of death. We had to forego emotions and work. There were times when I wanted to take a break, but seeing a message of an emergency would make us get back to our work." Source : Times Of India