This pandemic has truly shaken the country from its roots. The first wave of coronavirus in the year 2020 seemed huge, but today it feels like a little breeze of wind in front of the blizzard- the second wave marked by unprecedented deaths and destruction of the human spirit- that 2021 has given us.
People are dying left and right. At many places, even in big cities, there are no beds, oxygen, medicines, or even facilities to cremate the ones that have passed away. It’s havoc. The government is doing what they can by providing solace to the ones in need, but in front of these deadly pangs of the virus, even that seems insufficient.
In such a time, the most important sector that has proved to be of major help to people is social media. Something which was used just for the purpose of entertainment at a point in time is saving the lives of thousands of people today.
Bureaucrats of our country are also not behind in making full use of social media to help people. Apart from their official duties, they are also continuously reaching out to people and helping in completing their requirements through social media. And one such person is IPS officer, Mr. Suraj Singh Parihar, the first Superintendent of Police of the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district of Chhattisgarh.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Parihar talks about how he is helping people using the power of social media and what impact has it had on them.
TWEETING TO SAVE PEOPLE’S LIVES
As the second wave of coronavirus became deadlier by the day, people frantically started searching for any possible ways to get help and save themselves or their loved ones. They started posting their needs and problems on social media in an attempt to find leads. This slowly became regularity as the entire country pitched in with anything that they could get help through.
Mr. Parihar’s timeline is filled with the same. The 2014 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IPS officer has been continuously posting about the requirements of people. He even laid out a proper format in which people could forward him their needs and requirements, which makes it easier to understand the gravity of the case, attracts attention, and speeds up the process
Mr. Parihar tries to pay heed to each and every request that is urgent in nature and work on it. On receiving any SOS, he contacts key people/volunteers and lines up timely arrangements for beds, oxygen cylinders, medicines, etc across the country. Once the requirement has been met, he even posts a ‘closed request’ on the post so that the public does not waste their time anymore on that particular case across all popular platforms of social media.
Earlier this April, Mr. Parihar asked the people through his social media handles to come up as volunteers and share how and where all they can help. He received a huge response in return and created a volunteer list thereof citywide
“We are a team of like-minded good samaritans and we work together. I wouldn’t have been able to do all this alone. My team helps me work through everything, from keeping an eye on requests, to the authentication, to follow ups, to delivery of the requirements, etc. Students who benefitted regularly from my webinar, counseling sessions also volunteer for the cause. They want to help as many people as they can,” Mr. Parihar told Indian Masterminds.
GOODWILL GOES A LONG WAY
Not just now but Mr. Parihar has been known to help people for a long time. To help youngsters in their study, he launched webinars for them where he answered their queries regarding UPSC, shared important tips to crack the exam, and even motivated them from time to time
Read Indian Masterminds feature on it, here: A Police Officer Who Is A Beacon to Prospective Civil Servants
Furthermore, he is also known for opening a free state of art updated library for the poor and the tribal youth of his district who did not have access to study material and the internet as much, so they could take help from the library and make a better future for themselves. The library was made solely out of book donations by people, a request of which was made by the IPS officer himself on his social media accounts. Prominent figures from all over the country also donated to the cause which made ‘Police ki Pathshala’ possible in February this year.
Read the stories here:
Creating A Book Bank for the Tribals
The Restive Youth Wanted a ‘Book Bank’- They Just Got One
Mr. Parihar has been working for the benefit of youth and people for so long now, that anyone who knows him, is aware of the good work that he is known to do. Thus, people come in large numbers to support him and help him whenever and however they can.
“It is all about the intention. Whatever I have done till now, I have done with pure intentions of the greater good. The public is aware of the intention as well as the work that we do. I am happy that I have been able to utilize the powerful tool of social media in a constructive manner. Everyone tries to help with leads or in ways that they can,” he told Indian Masterminds.
The officer not only helps the sick but also the needy. He helps the small vendors, the poor, and ones with small-time businesses that are suffering due to the lockdown with food and essential requirements. “No one should go hungry; therefore I have maintained a local list of good samaritans/volunteers for such distress calls in my district.”
Mr. Parihar has never put in a request for himself or for his family so far. He doesn’t even know these people that he’s helping. He just wishes the best for everyone and tries to help as many people as he can, in these tough times. The country needs more officials like him.
