Jitender Singh Shunty who lent helping hand to Covid-affected gets Padma Shri

New Delhi, November 9

Jitender Singh Shunty, who received Padma Shri, is the founder of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal, engaged in the service of people by transporting Covid-19 patients to hospitals and caring for unclaimed bodies.

Expressing happiness on receiving the award, he said it belonged to each and everyone who helped him accomplish the work during the pandemic. “I am inspired by Bhagat Singh, who at the age of 23 kissed the hangman’s noose for the country.” A two-time councillor from the Jhilmil ward and former Shahdara MLA, Singh has been engaged in running the foundation for 25 years,

providing free ambulance services to the poor.

Their chain of service remained uninterrupted all through the crisis even though Singh got infected with the virus along with son Jyot Jeet and wife Baljit Kaur. During the crisis, Jitender had told The Tribune: “I have no regrets that I have contracted the virus. It was something I was anticipating. My only regret is I am unable to personally serve the people who might still need my help. We may be quarantined at home but our organisation’s activities continue uninterrupted.” — TNS