While the overarching objective of the initiative was to manage food logistics so that no citizen went hungry, the responsibility often went beyond. When cyclone Nisarga ravaged the state in June, Jain and his officers arranged for tarpaulins to be sent to over 1,000 houses in Thane district. "We helped with medical assistance, hospitalisation and plasma therapy for several critical patients in Delhi, Telangana and Mumbai." He says they got pregnant women admitted at hospitals and even helped cremate the dead. "There was the mother of an Army personnel, who passed away and her sons were serving in different parts of the country. They were supposed to reach Mumbai, but needed help to preserve the body until then. So, we did the needful."

According to Jain, being a government official came handy because they knew what was the right thing to do in a national crisis and had the necessary skill. "At that point, the administration required help identifying beneficiaries and there were people who were desperately seeking assistance. Connecting all these people wasn't easy, but that's where we came in."

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

Jain says his contribution was more in terms of time and energy and to augment government efforts. "I must commend the Mumbai Police, who provided us with their officers and vehicles when we went to distribute food supplies and ensured we weren't mobbed, especially in Dharavi and Worli."

Jain's crew also played an instrumental role in not just rescuing pets but also pulling down 167 misleading hoardings—warning people that the virus is spread through animals—that were cropping up in the city.

Jain says being a government official means there are certain protocols to follow. "Even in helping people, you need to be a little restrained. You can't always be at the front, but that shouldn't stop us from being good human beings."