From beating Covid and donating her salary to personally sanitising areas and offering supplies, a panch in Penha de Franca seems to have done it all.
When Shalu Gupta got elected as panch of Ward 8 in the Penha de Franca panchayat for the first time in 2017, little did she realise that her work as an elected representative would take an unusual turn three years later.
When the lockdown was declared, Gupta was the first panch member in Penha de Franca to donate her three months' salary to the Covid Relief Fund.
She also took the lead to provide Glucose water and juice to police personnel deputed at various posts in Porvorim. She had also distributed food grains to the needy during the lockdown.
Gupta recently contracted Covid and remained under home quarantine for 17 days.
As soon as she got cured, Gupta resumed her work for the welfare of people.
She purchased two sanitising machines and began constantly sanitising not only areas of her ward but also areas of other wards which have Covid patients.
When contacted, Gupta said she had been doing the work herself, while her husband, Anurag, who is also a social worker has been assisting in her endeavour.
“I have always believed in the saying, ‘Help others and God will help you’. Since people have elected me it is my duty to serve people during the Covid pandemic. I have got full support from my husband, Anurag, and also from other panchayat members,” said Gupta.
