Corpn celebrates b’day of 10-yr-old at relief centre

Shristi Kumari, who turned 10 on Saturday, reached the State with her family and 34 other relatives from Bihar on a pilgrimage. As the nationwide lockdown was announced, the family was stranded in the city. They were rescued by the Chennai Corporation officials and provided food and shelter in Guindy. “On knowing that the girl’s birthday falls on Saturday, we decided to give her hope and happiness. So, we bought a cake and celebrated her birthday with her family,” N Thirumurugan, Adyar zonal officer (in-charge) said.

The civic body has provided shelter to nearly 74 persons so far. All the 34 pilgrimages are made to stay on the first floor of the relief centre and remaining persons, who are also from other States, are on the ground floor. “We celebrated a young girl’s birthday at a migrant relief centre in Guindy. In hard times like these, where they couldn’t be home with their loved ones, these small things will boost up their confidence and emotional health. Let’s take care of them,” the Greater Chennai Corporation tweeted. Thirumurugan added that the food and medicines are being provided to the persons in the relief centre and they are staying in the centre since the beginning of the lockdown.

“They are not just stranded people. They are not just inmates at our relief centres. They are one among us. @chennaicorp staff celebrating the birthday of a young girl at one of our relief centres. Heartening to see this,” Meghanath Reddy, Chennai Corporation deputy commissioner (Revenue and Finance), said.