LORNA FERNANDES,
researcher-activist, Cuncolim, 50 years
HOW I survive covid and what I continue to learn?
It’s been a difficult time for most people but for me it has been God sent because I have greatly appreciated the “me time” that it has provided during the stay home periods of the lockdown. As by nature I am a loner! I’ve been catching up on reading, caring for my pets, tending to my garden, growing fruits and vegetables and of course, sleeping. This also helps in keeping me sane and calm.
The books that I read are on spirituality, biographies of various people who inspire me, and surrounding myself with my postal stamp collection which brings be so much joy. One can also learn a lot from the documentaries on television news channels about what is going on in the world, apart from covid-19.
Reading the newspapers with all that is going on around in the world with regards to covid, especially now in India, is depressing and disheartening. It affects me greatly and I feel the pain and sorrow of my brethren of this country. It is always in the back of my mind. I have not observed any festivities this past year in solidarity with the people who are suffering, instead donating to people that I know who are struggling.
I do go to the local shops to get essentials when I run out but that is perhaps once in two weeks or even longer. My work with the Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum, the Goa Women’s Forum and the GOACAN Complaints Cell in taking up issues that are reported in the newspapers, complaints received from consumers, writing to the appropriate authorities, following them up on the phone and trying to find solutions and putting systems in place also takes up some of my time. Through GOACAN, we organised along with the Directorate of Agriculture three programs on Urban Organic Gardening with an emphasis on growing fruits and vegetables in pots. I am also in touch with the people who attended the programs and we share photographs of our produce and discuss our challenges.
I do urge kids and adults to take up some hobbies during this pandemic if they have no hobbies, it is not just during the pandemic but otherwise too because it is good for the mental health of everyone. I am blessed that I have some resources to keep me going without struggling but feel sad and upset that I am not able to do more to help others financially. I am ever so grateful that people who do have resources to help are doing so and I admire them greatly.
My only hope is that we come out of this pandemic and the sooner the better. I send out lots of positive thoughts to all of the people in Goa and the country who have lost a loved one, be it a family member, friend, relative or neighbour to keep them strong in these trying times.