As the second wave of pandemic hit India poorly, and the third wave seems to be approaching, several states and cities are under complete lockdown and shutdown. In turn, this has affected millions of lives, especially those who do not have a job or cannot be working from home. The busy streets of the country filled with several odd engagements earlier are now lying vacant and so do the bowls of the ones who did these works. Also, the home delivery and indoor services are not exactly affordable for these strata. They are now struggling for their existence once again, like last year.
Yet apart from the government authorities, several organizations and individuals have been working incessantly and finding ways to aid the needy during this crisis.
One such NGO is Sions Friend Circle in Mumbai, which has been doing commendable work throughout the pandemic. Recently they thought of a unique initiative like they always do. As all salons across the city remain closed, they decided to provide haircuts to the children who live in the slums. They indeed don’t have an electric trimmer or can afford salon services at home.
What made this move even more eye-catching for the kids is that Ashok Kurmi, the member of the friend’s circle, dressed up in a Doraemon costume. As a haircut is a very sensitive thing for young children, Doraemon stood by them while getting a cut. He also tried his best to entertain the kids.
“We realized that it has become very difficult for people to get personal grooming and it is essential to stay clean and avoid Corona. So, I along with a member of my friend circle arranged this program to cut children’s hair. We have trimmed about 50+ children in Antop hill for free,” informed the social activist to Life Beyond Numbers.
The man accompanying Kurmi and cutting the hair is Mohd Siddiqui, also known as Bhola. Siddiqui owns a salon in Antop Hill and is currently closed due to the restrictions. On learning about Kurmi’s idea, he joined the cause. The hairdresser followed all COVID-19 protocols and wore a PPE kit while giving the haircut to kids.
Earlier, Ashok Kurmi, dressed as a spiderman and Santa Claus, sanitized public spaces and distributed masks in Mumbai, respectively. His friend circle has been doing much philanthropic work such as distributing ration and organizing awareness campaigns since the dawn of the coronavirus in India.