Retd 70-yr-old AI employee now a hero on 2 wheels

BEACONS OF HOPE

Retd 70-yr-old AI employee now a hero on 2 wheels

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:30.06.2021

At a time when even the young are hesitant to step out, 70-yearold KR Srinivas Rao has been busy helping others. Even when Covid-19 cases were peaking, Rao was running errands on his bicycle to deliver medicines, ration, and other essentials to those in need.

Rao, a retired Air India employee, also helps Hyderabad Relief Riders in checking whether a request is genuine or not. “I want to do whatever little I can do for the society,” the 70-yearold told TOI. Rao, a resident of West Marredpally, has been attending requests within a six to seven kilometre from his residence, even sponsoring their requirements in some cases.

“Whenever I go to deliver, I make it a point to see their condition and do my bit,” he says, adding that his wife was a little hesitant in the beginning but is now very cooperative. “My children, who are currently living abroad, however, are not completely on board with me stepping out amid pandemic,” he added.

Rao said that he spends about 2 hours every day playing table tennis and mostly uses his cycle to travel. He said that on multiple occasions he came across people trying to misuse their service even when they have a healthy adult at home, who is capable of doing chores. “When I come across such cases, I counsel them and encourage them to step out and shop for their needs,” he added and said that he even served people younger than him in the last couple of months.

Rao’s fellow riders volunteering at Hyderabad Relief Riders said that he is an inspiration to many. “Apart from delivering, he also helps us in verifying requests,” said Ravi Sambari, a cyclist. 82-year-old Nirmal Verma, who lives alone in the city, said that Rao delivered her groceries on Monday after she placed a request with Hyderabad Relief Riders.

Apart from delivering the essentials, Rao also sponsors the supplies for those in need