A farmer from Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district, moved by the plight of COVID-19 patients and the growing demand for medical oxygen, has donated the 2 lakh he had set aside for his daughter's lavish wedding to the local administration to purchase the life-saving gas.
Champalal Gurjar of Gwal Deviyan village in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district presented Mayank Agrawal with a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to purchase two cylinders of medical oxygen, one for the district hospital and the other for the Jeeran Tehsil, where he lives.
Gurjar had put money together for his daughter's wedding. He wished for a grand wedding service, which took place on Sunday. However, the farmer was shaken by the plight of COVID-19 patients, and he changed his mind just before his daughter's wedding.
Mr Gurjar, however, changed his mind at the last minute due to the pandemic situation. "So, to make my daughter's wedding special, I donated two lakh to the district administration so that they could purchase two oxygen cylinders," he said.
Anita was taken aback by her father's expression. "Given the increase in COVID-19 incidents, there is a desperate need for medical oxygen right now," she said.
"The battle against the pandemic will become a lot simpler if others follow the farmer's lead and donate," Collector Agrawal said. Mr Gurjar's act was applauded by Collector Agrawal.
Several citizens have stepped up to assist those in need in the wake of the country's second coronavirus outbreak.
Shahnawaz Sheikh, a Mumbai resident, recently sold his SUV for Rs 22 lakh to support the residents in his neighborhood. He was able to obtain as many as 160 oxygen cylinders for patients after selling his Ford Endeavor.
Manoj Gupta, a businessman from Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh, charges Rs 1 to refill oxygen cylinders. "I know what it's like to suffer because I've had a similar experience. My bottling plant will refill 1000 oxygen cylinders a day, and I'm giving the refilled cylinders away for free to all "he said.
According to the state health department, Madhya Pradesh's caseload was 5,11,990 and the death count was 5,221 as of Tuesday.
