THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
In the face of unknown risks posed by the pandemic, Shreya Mandrekar, a community resource person in Moira, could wage an impressive fight against the pandemic with the relentless support of her family “ her husband and son. Her self-help group Shree Rashtroli, Alto Bambordem has been on the forefront in reaching out to Covid affected people in her area.
Her mission began last March when the lockdown started, and it’s still on. When lockdown cut off people from safely accessing essential services, Shreya delivered these at people’s doorsteps with the help of her son and husband. She purchased goods at wholesale rates and delivered the same without charging anything extra. She also launched a sensitization drive in her village, to raise awareness about Covid appropriate behaviour.
Currently, Shreya is running a community kitchen with the help of two other CRPs “ Sushma Naik and Shilpa Bhagdi with the support of Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira. “We provide 250 tiffin services every day to Covid patients under isolation. Homely food is prepared with extreme care, following Covid appropriate norms,” shares Shreya.
Shreya has also been motivating members of her community to get vaccinated. Shreya recalls, “This drive was not easy as people were reluctant to listen proactively.” However, she succeeded in allaying fears by narrating her own experience with the vaccine and informing them that it is normal to experience mild symptoms for a day or two after being vaccinated.
Shreya’s warrior status is constantly evolving and she is responding to the requirements of the second wave as well delivering oxygen cylinders, medicines and PPE kits to patients under isolation. Pointing out that joining the self-help group under the Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission has been life changing for her, Shreya admits that access to information about schemes and District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) trainings and support from Goa Livelihoods Forum have given her the confidence to carry out community work with ease.
The efforts of Shreya emanated from the love she holds for her community, and her work is appreciated in her village by the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) members and staff of Aldona PHC.
“I am blessed with good health and so it’s my duty to serve the people in my village and constituency. My work gives me immense satisfaction,” she concludes.
I am blessed with good health and so it’s my duty to serve the people in my village and constituency. My work gives me immense satisfaction
Shreya Mandrekar
