In the narrow lanes of Jamia Nagar’s Johri Farms, two men covered in PPE suits from head to toe, walk door to door, offering indoor sanitisation services for homes, offices and shops. The men belong to a group of young volunteers who are a part of the Right To Safety Foundation, a Delhi-based group that has come forward to help in the fight against coronavirus. Geared with disinfectant spray pumps and PPE kits, this group of young volunteers operates in the South Delhi area.
“Sanitisation is crucial in containment of the coronavirus. Government provided for sanitisation drives in outdoor public spaces, but that is not enough. Therefore, we volunteered to disinfect indoor spaces like homes, shops and offices”, says Aamir Ayyub, founder of the RTS Foundation.
The group believes this is khidmat-e-khalq, which means ‘service to humanity.’ The volunteers put their lives at risk as they step out daily to go door to door, offering the service. The service is priced at a bare minimum rate to encourage the practice among people. “This is not for profit, we do it for free for people who live in slums and cannot afford disinfectants,” says Muhammad, who volunteers for the foundation.
“There was a sense of panic among people. There was also a lot of misinformation. As we go door to door and interact with the residents, we also try to educate them about the ways to ensure cleanliness, how to use disinfectants, etc.” Muhammad adds.
Despite no financial assistance, the volunteers ensure strict adherence to the best of safety measures and regulatory protocols. “After obtaining permission to conduct activities in the South Delhi area, we arranged for PPE kits, disinfectant liquid, spray pumps etc. on our own”, says the founder of the RTS Foundation.
The group has so far sanitised over 250 homes and shops as well as the Jamia Nagar Police Station. The response largely has been positive. “Indoor sanitisation is a great idea. I have young children as well as elderly parents therefore I wanted to ensure complete protection from the virus.” says a resident.
“Both me and my husband are in essential services which gives us very little time at home to ensure complete sanitisation for our four-year-old daughter. Their services will give us at least some peace of mind during these times,” says another resident who has availed herself of their services during the weekend.