On 28th of January around 1 p.m., we received a call at ALCO from member Mr D. K. Adhikari’s MEAS device. We could only hear someone crying and asking for help. Through digital tracking, ALCO found that ZC Mr G. Basak was near Mr Adhikari’s residence. Mr Basak was informed and he rushed to the member’s house. He found the whole building engulfed in dense smoke and a fire engine was trying to douse the fire. Everyone from the building had come out. The ZC knew that our member was still recovering from Covid-19 and was almost bedridden. Without wasting a second, he ran inside. When the flat owners asked him where he was going, he shouted back that he is from Support Elders and needed to save our member, who was trapped inside. He rushed to Mr Adhikari’s fourth floor flat and found him gasping for breath. His two attendants were extremely worried. They were crying and trying to bring him out. The ZC held the member tightly. Carefully, he brought our member down through the narrow staircase and managed to get a chair for him to sit on. The ZC gave our member some water and assured him that all would be fine. Then, the ZC asked MCAs
Mr S. Ghosh and Mr C. S. Patra to reach there immediately. Once they reached there, the ZC briefed them and left for his next scheduled task. Only after things were under control and the fire brigade and CESC gave permission for residents to enter, did our MCAs carry our member to his flat and settle him on his bed. Their next task was to arrange for an emergency light for Mr Adhikari, as there would be no power for the next few days. They bought an emergency light, charged it at our rest shelter office at Patuli and informed the night shift MCAs to reach it to Mr Adhikari’s residence, so that he could use it at night. MCA Mr Ghosh called our member at night to check on him and ask about his wellbeing. Kudos to the ZC and the MCAs for a job well done. We are proud of our team!

On 16th of December 2021, MCA Mr G. Bhowmik received from Mr M. Halder and Ms M. Ganjai, who were manning ALCO, a call to go to our member Mr A. K. Bhattacharjee’s residence immediately because he was feeling unwell. He set off immediately and reached around 10 p.m. Seeing that Mr A. K. Bhattacharjee was experiencing extreme breathing difficulties, he took permission from our member’s wife to hospitalise him. The MCA informed ALCO and requested them to send an ambulance immediately. He then accompanied Mr Bhattacharjee and his wife to a nearby hospital. But after initial check-up, the doctor, suspecting a cardiac problem, requested the MCA to shift Mr Bhattacharjee to a hospital with a better cardiology department. The MCA then accompanied them and admitted our member in another hospital. He ensured Ms Bhattacharjee was comfortably seated before completing the admission-related formalities himself. By then it was almost 2.30 a.m. One of themember’s relatives, who stays outside Kolkata, was worried about Ms Bhattacharjee, but MCA Mr Bhowmik assured him that it was his responsibility to reach her home safely. He booked her a cab, escorted it and waited till she entered her home. By the time he left Mr Bhattacharjee’s residence, it was 3 a.m. He called ALCO as per process, informed the details and signed off. We are happy to say that Mr Bhattacharjee and his relative were extremely pleased with the dedication and responsibility shown by MCA Mr Bhowmik.

Ms M. Talukdar’s differently-abled child, Mr K. K. Talukdar, who is also our member was supposed to get his cataract operation done in a South Kolkata hospital while they stay in Salt Lake. As he cannot understand and converse with an unknown person, the doctor said that someone known had to be with him throughout the procedure. MCA Mr S. Saha, whom Mr Talukdar is familiar with, was given the responsibility to be his companion. As per the current pandemic protocol both Mr Talukdar and the MCA had to have their mandatory RTPCR test done. On the day of the operation, the MCA reached Ms Talukdar’s house around 8:30 a.m. and checked all his medical papers. Then, accompanied by Ms Talukdar’s sister, he took Mr Talukdar to the hospital. The MCA helped the nursing attendants get him ready for the operation. The MCA was permitted to wait just outside the OT in case there was any urgent requirement. Other than going out to purchase two essential medicines prescribed by the doctor, the MCA stayed with Mr Talukdar throughout and kept an eye on him, so that he did not rub his eyes and also to help him eat. In the evening, after completing all the discharge formalities and understanding the medication from the doctor, the MCA brought Mr Talukdar home. He explained the medication and precautions that needed to be taken to Ms Talukdar and signed off at 7.30 p.m. The dedication and care taken by MCA Mr Saha and the Support Elders team was much appreciated by Ms Talukdar.

Our member, Mr S. N. Chowdhury, had to visit his bank for the mandatory annual life certificate submission. He, however, had had an operation sometime back and due to post-surgery complications his lifestyle had been impacted, as he had to always wear a medical apparatus. He got in touch with our Uttarpara branch. MCA Mr K. Mitra, after taking stock of the situation, went to his house and accompanied him to the bank. Since Mr Chowdhury’s attendant was absent that day, the MCA requested Mr Chowdhury to wait in the vehicle, while he went inside the bank to make the necessary arrangements. The bank was very crowded and there were at least 45 people waiting to submit their life certificates. Since it would be difficult for Mr Chowdhury to wait that long, the MCA went to the Branch Manager’s room and explained the situation. After getting his permission, the MCA requested the people waiting in the que to consider Mr Chowdhury’s condition. After getting permission from everyone, the MCA escorted the member to the bank. As Mr Chowdhury’s biometric was not matching, they completed the paperwork manually, with the help of the Branch Manager. Within 15 minutes the task was completed and the member was taken back home. The MCA’s dedication and the empathetic response was appreciated by the member.