In times of crisis, it doesn’t matter how many resources you have but that you’re able and willing to help. Because every little bit counts and our actions can go on to save lives. Or at the very least, ease someone’s suffering. To this end, businessman Ketan Rawal, who usually provides his vanity vans to B-town, is now providing them to Mumbai police free of cost. India Today quoted him saying,
“I have maximum vanity vans in Bollywood. I am looking to provide them all to cops. It is time for people to help each other. The response from the cops is so great and when they thank me, I feel so happy.”
#KetanRawal provides vanity vans to Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Rohit Shetty and many more, he said. | @saurabhv99#VanityVans #Covid19 #Coronavirus https://t.co/XYtvTVu2jj
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) April 21, 2021
Speaking about the rationale behind his idea, he said,
“They are frontline workers. I feel very sad when I see women police officials do not even get to use the washroom. They have to stand in the heat for several hours. Therefore, I have decided to provide all my vanity vans free of cost to police officials.”
Mumbai Businessman gives vanity vans to police on lockdown duty | freepressjournal https://t.co/L2weUYxSzy
— @Hindukhattar (@Hindukhattar3) April 21, 2021
TOI quoted him adding, “I have diverted vans from Rohit Shetty’s ‘Cirkus’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, and Anand L Rai’s ‘Raksha Bandhan’ in service of the Mumbai police.”
Another good samaritan in Mumbai is Shahnawaz Shaikh who sold his Ford Endeavour SUV last year so that he could buy oxygen cylinders for those who require it. He decided to do this after his friend’s cousin died due to the coronavirus and he realized how much timely intervention can help COVID-19 patients.
31-yr-old Shahnawaz Shaikh from Mumbai sold his SUV to buy oxygen cylinders for coronavirus patients.
He distributed oxygen cylinders to more than 250 needy families free of cost.During the lockdown, he hs bn using his car as a makeshift ambulance. Hats off to him. 🙏🏻@iamrana pic.twitter.com/KpwX723OE0
— IMShubham (@shubham_jain999) April 22, 2021
According to NDTV, he started the ‘Unity & Dignity Foundation’ and now supplies free oxygen to those in need. He was quoted saying,
“Last year when we started, we provided oxygen to 5,000 to 6,000 people. This year, there is a shortage of oxygen in the city. Where we used to get 50 calls earlier, we now get 500 to 600.”
Mumbai's "Oxygen man" Shahnawaz Shaikh.
Last year he sold his SUV and gave Oxygen cylinder to 250 families for free, this year he has established a War Room in Mumbai and giving Free Oxygen to people. pic.twitter.com/RGDF5omIDG
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) April 20, 2021
He added, “Earlier, we were not able to work properly due to lack of funding. I thought things like my SUV can be bought again, what is important right now is to help others. That’s why I sold my SUV and certain other things, and that’s how we were able to help others.”
Not all superheroes wear capes!