The ongoing war against
COVID-19 or Coronavirus pandemic, which has gripped at least 185 countries
across the world, still seems far from over. Though the three-week countrywide
lockdown in India
declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 is nearing completion, speculations
are rife on its extension, based on the opinions of state governments and
experts. The impact of the virus outbreak and the lockdown has certainly been
felt by one and all, but it has been most apparent among those who have been
deprived of their livelihood and bare essentials. Along with government
authorities and officials, several people have extended a helping hand in their
individual capacity too, ensuring that no child sleeps hungry and no elderly
remains empty stomach.
A number of such persons have
taken to short video app VMate and shared videos of their distributing foods
among the needy. Some of them have filmed others who participated in the noble
cause. Videos have been shared on the platform from different parts of the
country, showing how government officials and common people are distributing
foods among those residing in villages and remote areas.
A VMate user named Shadab Ali
has shared a video wherein he can be seen distributing cash and biscuit packets
among children and other villagers. He can also be seen spraying sanitizer on
everyone’s hands before giving away the packets and currency. Raja, a creator
from Bihar’s Bhagalpur,
too has shared a video of him distributing food packets among kids and other
members of a village. A few other VMate creators, such as Muhammad Kasim and
Ansh Jain, have also filmed and shared videos of helping those who failed to
procure essential food items in the wake of the lockdown.
Sunny Virdi, a creator from Chandigarh, shared a
touching video. In the video, his mother is seen serving food and tea to an old
man who could not get anything to eat for over two days. In the video, Sunny
has urged all the viewers to do their bit by extending a helping hand to such
people who have no shelter or food in this time of crisis.
Apart from these, users have
also shared videos of other individuals who distributed food and emerged as a
lifesaver for scores of others. A user from North 24 Parganas in West Bengal has shared a video showing members of a
self-help group distributing cooked food in a village.
Avadhesh Dixit, a creator
from Rajasthan, filmed some individuals carrying packets of grains in a vehicle
and distributing them among residents of a village. Several elderlies can be
seen receiving the packets filled with foodgrains. The video has in its
background a song that has always helped in uplifting our spirits – ‘Hum Honge
Kamyaab’, the Hindi version of ‘We shall overcome’.
This is not the first time
when users have used VMate, which is known as ‘Rural India’s TikTok’, to
showcase how the remote parts of the country are battling the unprecedented
crisis. Previously, the creators had shown how authorities were using all means
of communication to reach out to millions in villages. Videos shared on the app
had showed how information was disseminated through loudspeakers on bicycles
and autorickshaws.
VMate too has on its own part
taken several initiatives to help people in the outbreak and lockdown
situation. Several doctors and medical professionals were roped in to furnish
validated and relevant information related to the novel virus among its users.
Later, the platform launched a profile titled ‘Myth Buster’, which served
corona-related information confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
With clear text, Hindi audio and illustrations/animations, right messages were
conveyed in the right manner to all. Further, to help people remain engaged and
entertained in their homes during lockdown, the app launched a #21DaysChallenge
and three games that also raised awareness about the pandemic.
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