City volunteers step in to fight corona pandemic

Shyam Sundar, curator and licencee of TEDxNapierBridge, has developed a web app, chennai.glideapp.io, containing contact details and other information issued by the government, all in one page. “I’ve been tracking COVID-19 since January, thanks to the prediction by a Pulitzer winning science journalist, Laurie Garrett. When Janata Curfew was announced in India, I realised this would continue for some time,” said Shyam. “I am active on Twitter and there was a lot of useful information scattered everywhere. I started sharing screenshots of that information on social media which my friends found useful. Then I hit upon an idea: What if I could compile all the information into a single web app? That’s how I developed ‘Chennai Covid-19 Help Web App’.” Shyam started compiling information from online sources, including Greater Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu Government and journalists from well known publications. “I segregated them into four categories such as the helpline, information, organisations offering help on the ground and how someone could help.I used Google sheets as a database and converted it into a web app that works on any device,” he said. “The web requires no download which helps in reducing data requirements and it also ensures user privacy. I update it every day and the source of each information is mentioned,” he signs off.

Leo Akash Raj (23) has been offering free transportation to pregnant women around his neighbourhood

and other parts of the city for the past few months. When the city came under lockdown, Leo decided to continue helping. “My team and I have two private cars to ferry people in need. We have also tied up with MAuto Electric Mobility who have lent one electric auto-rickshaw for this purpose,” says Leo. His team uses social media to share posts about this transportation concept. Giving a brief about how he started this initiative, Leo talks about his volunteering organisation, Pretty Lil’ Hearts, which he launched in 2017 with his friends. “We work on providing meals to the homeless, teaching underprivileged children and offer medication, financial and transportation support to pregnant women facing poverty and disability issues,” Leo concludes