Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Covid Crisis: Padutirupathi Cricketers bats for the needy



T
hey do not just play cricket. They too are into philanthropic activities as their famous brethren elsewhere.  Meet Padutirupathi Cricketers, a group of young cricket enthusiasts of Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community.  This Karkala-based troupe, besides cricket, has extended a helping hand to the needy on many occasions.



     The lockdown in the wake of Covid – 19 is another occasion for the local GSB youngsters to serve the society.  They provide food to the medicos, paramedics, officials and workers whose service is essential to combat the ruthless spread of the novel Corona virus. Besides, patients in hospitals, their attendants, stranded homeless labourers and the poor too are on their food-supply radar.  Though the prevalence of Covid -19 cases is relatively low in Udupi district, no stone is left unturned in diagnosing and nipping the spread of the disease at the outset.

     The hardship of the personnel at a checkpost to get some food and water propelled a few members, mostly businessmen, in the group to rise to the occasion. They started providing food to them from the day 4 of the first phase of the lockdown. What started as a small gesture has, today, grown into an efficient network, supplying lunch packs to as many as 500 people in and around Karkala. The Police, government hospital, nursing homes, health workers, staff at various government offices, patients and quarantined people are the beneficiaries of their benevolence.   “Our purpose is to keep the people indoors and stay put at their locations, instead of coming out looking for food,” says Prakash Pai, a member.



     The vegetarian lunch comprises rice, sambar, palya, pickle and butter milk. Sometimes payasa and other delicious items are included upon request by the sponsors.  Padutirupathi Cricketers dispatches about 150-200 breakfast packets. The menu varies with items like Idli-chutney, Puliyogare, Buns and Upma-avalakki on different days. The team also provides dinner to the inmates at the quarantine facility.  In addition fruits are offered to patients sometimes.

     “Their service is a godsend to the staff, patients and those who accompany them. Our special requests for toddlers too have been promptly met without any delay,” opine in unison K V Padmavathi and Nayana Jayanth, staff nurses at the government hospital. “Even the people at the quarantine facility too are happy to have variety of good food,” adds Nayana.

     In all 30-40 members of Padutirupathi Cricketers involve themselves in the task.  They cook, pack and carry them to the respective locations in their own two-wheelers and four wheelers.  Govindaraya Pai, a member, has offered the premises of his home for the purpose. The volunteers abide by the lockdown guidelines by maintaining physical distance, wearing mask etc. at every step of this food supply chain.  The youth slog from seven in the morning until around 4 O’clock in the evening.


     “The daily expenses of the hygienic and healthy GSB food may come upto Rs 10,000,” says Vittaladas Shenoy, president of Padutirupathi Cricketers.  The labour of each member, of course, is not counted. Their valuable service is priceless.   Looking at the zealous and selfless service of the team, many have come forward with donations.  Offers come in the form of cash and kind. Now many other organizations too have joined hands. The burden now is shared, if not equally. True, no good work hits a road block owing to paucity of funds.


     Considering the clean kitchen as well as hygienic and healthy food, the administration too did not have a second thought in giving the go ahead.  Now it is mightily impressed with the committment of Padutirupathi Cricketers.  Tahsildar of Karkala Purandara Hegde profusely thanks the youngsters for their noble gesture in this hour crisis.  “Their generosity to provide food to all who are nowhere to turn to during the ongoing lockdown period is commendable,” says the Tahsildar.

     The troupe indeed has turned itself into a troop in the war against the Corona virus. 

   

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