Farmers Movement Archive

It’s a service to the nation: Fireman

Tribune News ServiceChandigarh, April 29Though fireman Naveen Kumar lives in the same house in Mani Majra, he does not meet his family members so that they stay protected.Since the time he has been assigned the Covid-19 duty, he has self-isolated himself as a precautionary measure. “My six and eight-year-old kids talk to me from a distance. My mother is old and diabetic. So, I haven’t met them for a month,” said Naveen.Every day, when he reaches home, his wife helps him in sanitising his belongings. Following this, he straight away goes to his room. Naveen, a personal assistant to the Chief Fire Officer, is currently heading a quarantine team, which isolates those entering the city from outside and those who are found negative.“I daily meet my team members, so there is a risk to me too,” he said. He also monitors the supply of vegetables and fruits in 11 sectors through CTU buses.“At 4:30 am, I visit the Sector 26 sabzi mandi to check whether the vendors are properly screened and using masks and gloves. I have even got a WhatsApp group made to keep a check on vendors. I also visit different sectors to check the supply of essentials,” he said.His work may invite risk in these tough times, but Naveen, who was awarded the President’s Fire Service Medal for Gallantry in 2017, feels it is a service to the nation.“I believe in the motto of the Fire Department, ‘We serve to save’. When we join fire services, we do not fear death. It is also a service to the nation,” said the confident firefighter.When asked whether his family feared for him, Naveen said, “No, they instead tell me to do more ‘desh seva’ and go ahead,” he smiled. He said nodal officer Anil Kumar Garg had been an inspiration for him and his colleagues Amarjeet Singh and Gagandeep Sharma were also effortlessly working in this tough time.PCS KPS Mahi had also been a great support to him at the sabzi mandi, he added.

The Tribune

2020-04-30