Indians are 65 days (9th week) into the national lockdown and are consistently putting up a strong fight against the pandemic at hand. While we are all victims of this catastrophe and have been affected by it in some way or the other, there exist more vulnerable sections of society that are bearing the disproportionate brunt of these unavoidable measures. The elderly, daily wage earners, waste/rag pickers, employees in the informal sector, labourers, slum-dwellers, low-income groups, sex workers, and stray animals, etc. are some members of our community who have been fighting a tougher battle.

To help the marginalized communities, on the one hand, we see the government implementing strong and necessary measures and deploying relief funds; on the other hand, several corporates, business leaders, influencers and celebrities have donated generously to initiatives across the nation to extend a hand of support.

Undoubtedly, the local government has played an important role in containing the spread of the coronavirus, especially managing the migrant returnees at the quarantine centres or temporary medical centres set up at the panchayat level. Panchayats across India have realised that they have to shoulder significant responsibilities beyond just providing relief during this unprecedented crisis, which should take the spotlight as one of the unsung warriors.

But what is new about this moment is that gram panchayats have been forced to step up despite their lack of preparedness for a disaster of the order unleashed by the coronavirus. Hopefully a majority will successfully respond to the challenges. Even partial success offers an opportunity – and hopefully an impetus – for a new beginning. The gram panchayats are learning by doing and working in ‘putting things together’ (Jugaad) mode to beat the odds stacked against them.

Going beyond gram panchayats, in such perilous times, it is important to highlight the exemplary work being done NGOs, community-led initiatives, social activists and self-help groups (SHGs). These organizations and individuals have been working round the clock to help our community in such unprecedented times and have shown great enterprise in helping ease the distress of marginalized communities during this lockdown.

While we sit in the comfort of our homes feeling grateful for the economic safety nets we have built to get us through these 65 days, let us take a moment to thank all those ‘unsung heroes’ who have been working day and night to help the poor who are struggling to earn a single meal a day.

Among the frontline, Corona Warriors are the doctors, nurses, police, NGO workers, community resource persons, volunteers, Waste Collectors, farmers – who supply dry food including vegetables, and even newspaper delivery guys – who quietly slip papers through our door despite the lockdown. More importantly, while were are staying indoors to fight Covid-19 there are journalists and news delivery partners, who come out every day to do justice to their profession and deliver reliable, trustworthy information at your doorstep.

Indeed, it is time to recognize and applaud the efforts being made by the unsung warriors, mainly because we cannot afford to have them fail.