For Kovalam residents, it pays to get a shot

 For Kovalam residents, it pays to get a shot

Trusts Offer Gold, Bike & Fridge For Getting Covid Jabs

Ram.Sundraram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:31.05.2021 

If you’re a resident of Kovalam near Chennai, it pays to get a jab. No, we are not talking about the concomitant medical benefits of Covid-19 inoculation, but free gifts in the form of gold coin, two-wheeler, refrigerator, washing machine, blender, grinder, mobile phone and sarees. And the icing on the cake — a plateful of scrumptious biryani for all to swallow the small pain of the prick. The gifts will be distributed based on a lucky draw.

Three welfare trusts from the city’s picturesque coastal neighbourhood — STS Foundation, managed by Kovalam youngsters; CN Ramadas Champions Development Trust run in memory of a retired IAS officer; and 1992 Don Bosco School alumni group in Chennai — have pooled in ₹50 lakh to bankroll the scheme.

Before the camp was launched, only 50 residents of the area’s 6,000-odd population had received their shots till Friday.

To make everyone count, the Good Samaritans launched the scheme on Saturday with the help of a five-member medical team from Kelambakkam Primary Health Centre. Free vaccines will be supplied for the camp by the Chengalpet district collectorate.

On the first day of the camp on Saturday, 100 got their jabs, said J Sundar, trustee of STS Foundation. Close to 500 have registered to get vaccinated in the coming days, he said.

R Girish from CN Ramadas Trust said that there was misinformation doing the rounds about vaccines and a lot of people were unwilling to get the jabs even if it was free.

OPEN INVITATION: (Left) An elderly woman inaugurates the vaccination camp on Saturday. Gifts meant for participants displayed at the camp

Volunteers aim to make Kovalam TN’s 1st 100% vaccinated locality

RGireesh, “So we needed a strategy which has to be exciting and help people overcome the hesitancy. We hope these prizes and briyani will bring more people to the camp.”

The volunteers have roped in Tamil TV actors to make short awareness videos which they have circulated on local Whatsapp groups.

The volunteers’ aim is to make Kovalam the first 100% vaccinated locality in the state. They are also planning to mobilise funds from their friends and acquaintances in the US, the UK and other foreign countries.

They want to repeat their campaign in 10 other places in and around Chennai to inoculate at least 50,000 people.

The three welfare groups are also currently running a 15-bedded Covid care centre in Velachery with oxygen supported beds for free.

After Chennai’s Covid beds position got better, they shifted their attention to vaccination.

The volunteers have roped in Tamil TV actors to make short awareness videos. They are also planning to mobilise funds from their friends and acquaintances in the US, the UK and other foreign countries. They want to replicate the campaign in other places