KHONSA, Jul 21: It is often said that the most challenging times also bring with it the most empowering lessons of compassion and hope. The story of Chajat Lowang, originally from Tirap and a 2017 batch IRS officer currently posted in Delhi as an Assistant Commissioner in the Income Tax department is one such example. 
Chajat launched a public fundraising drive, initially among her colleagues of the IT department and other friends in Delhi. Overwhelmed by the huge show of love and compassion leading to a collection of nearly Rs 2 lakhs in just one day, she decided to extend the initiative amongst her colleagues back home in Tirap too.  A wholehearted support from several officers in the district, people from all walks of life and many ex-Sarada Mission students led to the total number of donors rising to 136 and with a collection of nearly Rs 7 lakh in just a matter of few days. As a mark of recognition of the efforts being displayed by the district’s doctors, nurses, medical staff and policemen in thwarting the pandemic, the first successful endeavour of the initiative was achieved through donation of medical equipment worth more than Rs 3.5 lakh which included 50 PPE kits, 250 N95 masks, 5000 3-ply masks, 2000 surgical gloves, around 150 litres of sanitizers, 50 face-shields and 100 bottles of disinfectants to the District General Hospital Khonsa and health centres in Deomali, Borduria and Lazu.

The second leg saw distribution of sanitizers to 150 on-duty police personnel and two-week refreshments for healthcare workers and police personnel in all the four checkpoints in the district. Both SP Tirap Karbak Riba and DMO Koblem Mossang expressed their gratitude to all the donors for the noble gesture. The  third initiative involved stitching of 3000 cloth masks with the help of the Women SHG of Thinsa village and NGOs namely Our Charitable Hand and Patkai Hills Welfare Society who came forward generously to help in distribution of the masks at the colonies in Deomali. These masks are being distributed under the banner of ‘Mask for Tirap Campaign’ not only in towns but also in eight remote villages of the district. As per plans, more villages will be covered in coming weeks. Apart from this, Chajat has also coordinated with an NGO from Andhra Pradesh named Aakanksha Fabs with the help of her department colleague V Sai Vamsi Vardhan to arrange for distribution of ration kits to 168 daily wage earners in Deomali and 146 similar others in Lohit district.
The IRS officer gives credit of her fundraising success to all the donors who came together in a large-hearted way. Many people who may not have helped financially, have actively contributed by helping in coordination and planning works. The people of Tirap have shown that with united efforts, storms, however fierce they may be, can be faced with courage.
The generous gesture of the non-Tirapians and non-Arunachalees have shown that the district is not alone in its fight against Covid and it also underlines the truth that for fighting a pandemic of this magnitude, reaching out to the fellow citizens transcending borders and cultures is the only way forward.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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