Beedi worker donates life savings for free vaccines

Kannur: At a time when the Kerala government and Centre are involved in a blame game over who should spend money for Covid-19 vaccination, Keralites, in a display of solidarity, are donating their life savings to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for vaccinating the helpless.

Janardhanan, a beedi worker, from Kannur donated his entire savings of Rs two lakh to the CMDRF so that others could get free vaccines.

Janardhanan, 63, said, “This pandemic is spreading everywhere and taking many lives. Why should I sit on my money when others need to get vaccinated? I heard that the government is going to charge for vaccination. So I decided to contribute so that those who do not have the money should get free vaccines.”

His deed was also noticed by Chief Minister Vijayan, who tweeted, “Many heartwarming stories are coming up about donations to the CMDRF, including that of an elderly man who donated 2L from his savings bank account which had Rs. 200,850 in it”