Coronavirus:UP's Green Gang reaching out to those in need

UP's Green Gang - which had taken cudgels against alcoholism in some districts - is now helping in the fight against coronavirus by cooking food for the needy, stitching masks and identifying those coming from other states.

Clad in green sarees, the women are working as eyes and ears of the UP police and administration.

"Active in 55 villages of Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ayodhya, Sonebhadra and Mirzapur, the women of 'Green Gang', as they are known, are doing their bit to help the administration in every way they can," said Divyanshu Upadhyay, founder and secretary of Hope Welfare Trust set up by studentsof the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) with the support of some professors.

These women have been running anti-liquor campaigns and fight for social causes in their villages.

Each village has a group of 25 such women, who actively champion social causes.

"With the spread of COVID-19 virus, we are providing food to migrant labourers. We are also keeping an eye on those coming from other states to their home and inform administration about them. We create awareness regarding coronavirus," saidRoshan Khatoon of Rajgarh Village in Mirzapur.

Champa Devi of Naxal-hit Bhawanipur village in Mirzapur, who is group leader of the 'Green Gang', is busy stitching face masks.

"We have stitched 500 masks and distributed them among people, telling them about its importance," Champa Devi said.

About the funding, President of Hope, Ravi Mishra said, "We and members of our group are contributing for the case. Those members, who have got jobs, are also helping as also professors of BHU."