ASI hasn't taken a single day off since lockdown

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 11

Not even a single day has passed after Sector 30-B was declared a “Covid affected pocket” that UT ASI Sudesh Kumar (52) has not taken multiple rounds of the area without taking any rest to address and urge people to stay indoors to contain the spread of the virus. He has not taken a single day off since the curfew/lockdown was enforced in the city.

Through the public address system, I educate people about the importance of social distancing and precautionary measures that need to be taken. — Sudesh Kumar, ASI

Besides Sector 30, Sudesh has been addressing residents of Colony No. 4 to ensure safe distribution of ration and food.

Outside the barricades of the containment zone, Sudesh makes announcements with a public address system asking people not to move outside their houses and call on helpline numbers in case of any need. He feels his efforts have proved helpful in making people understand the gravity of the ongoing situation and take necessary measures. “It has not been easy to make people understand. I take several rounds every day to achieve the target,” he says.

Sudesh has also been educating residents of Colony No. 4 in the Industrial Area, which is among the densely populated colonies in the city. “Through the public address system, I educate them about the importance of social distancing and precautionary measures that need to be taken,” he says.

Although there is provision for taking rest, Sudesh has not even taken a single day off day since the curfew/lockdown as he believes this is the time society needs his services the most. He has been devoting 12 to 14 hours every day to his work.

For Sudesh, his United Nations mission posting in Liberia, West Africa, in 2014 has also proved helpful during this pandemic. “During my posting in Liberia, there was an outbreak of Ebola and I had some observations and learning from there which I tried to implement here as well, which includes personal hygiene and wearing gloves and mask,” he says.

During his UN posting, Sudesh was also awarded for his bravery. While at the UN mission in Liberia, he was travelling by a helicopter, which crash-landed. Despite being traumatised, Sudesh rescued the injured flight engineer and a crew member. For this act, he was awarded the Courageous Service Award by the UN Police Commissioner, United Nations Mission, Liberia, on February