People not dying of Covid-19 but lack of basic treatment: Srinivas B V

In the first wave, we supported, to the extent of dry rations and transportation. This time, we needed to help with medical emergencies, said IYC president Srinivas B V

Srinivas B V is the president of the Indian Youth Congress and in the news for being tagged by the High Commission of New Zealand in India as a resource to approach for help in fighting Covid-19 if all else failed. In this interview with Aditi Phadnis, the 39-year-old explains what the IYC is doing and why people are turning to him and other NGOs. Edited excerpts:
 
How did you join the Congress and become president of the Indian Youth Congress?
 
I belong to Karnataka, my hometown is in Shivamogga…
 

Same as the chief minister…
 
Yes. The RSS No 2, Dattatreya Hosbale, belongs to Shivamogaa, too.

 
Actually, I’m a cricketer. I played for the state as wicketkeeper-batsman at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels. I also played in sub-division clubs and a minor county in London until 2003. I’ve studied at National College, Basavangudi, in Bengaluru and I wanted to continue to pursue cricket. Unfortunately, one afternoon at the cricket ground, where more than 18 teams were practising cricket, I had stayed behind to discuss something with a friend and a cricket ball hit me in the right eye. I went to the doctor who told me everything was fine. But I developed complications and had to undergo surgery for detachment of the retina: Which is a serious eye problem. It took me one year to recover. I got my vision back but I had to abandon my career as a cricketer.

 
Even at that time, I used to support the National Students Union of India (NSUI, the Congress’s student wing). Then Youth Congress held elections in 2011. Rahul Gandhiji’s rallying cry was: Member Banao, Neta Bano (Become a member, become a leader). I got elected and was made general secretary Karnataka. After that, I became all-India secretary and had charge of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and other states. Gradually, after becoming interim president, I became IYC president.
 
What kind of work has the IYC been doing?
 
On March 7, we had a national executive meeting in which all state presidents and national office bearers participated. We drew up a six-month plan of work. Rahul Gandhiji attended that meeting. This was the second time he attended our meeting. In March 2020 also we had a similar meeting at which he was present, too. He spent over four hours with us. He gave clear instructions: ‘Don’t do any kind of politics. Covid is here and it is going to hit again. We must try and support the people in their struggle.’

 
After that, we named 1,000 people volunteers. We are not just working among people this time, we worked in the last round of the pandemic, as well. Our people are going to the homes of those hit by Covid, providing food, and transport. But we never expected a medical emergency at this scale.
 
You worked with people in the first wave and now the second. What is the difference?
 
In the first wave, we supported, to the extent of dry rations and transportation. This time, we needed to help with medical emergencies: Oxygen, medicines like remdesivir, plasma, ICU facilities; many did not know how to register for vaccination. Motivating and counselling people who had gone through Covid to donate their plasma so that India would have a bank. We brought them to the blood bank so that they could donate. There were other patients who needed blood — cancer and dialysis patients and such. We handled those problems, as well.

 
How do you assess the performance and role of state governments?
 
Most of the effort is by non-government agencies. People are not dying from Covid. They are dying because they are not getting basic treatment. In the second wave, oxygen beds, ventilators, ICUs, injections, and plasma were needed. But people did not get these facilities in time and that is why we lost them.
 
You were involved in a controversy when the New Zealand High Commission contacted you for oxygen and not the government…
 
This is Indian culture. The New Zealand High Commission tagged me and said it needed help. That was at 9.15 am. I gave it whatever help I could, as soon as I could.

 
What are you doing now?
 
We are giving dry rations. Today, I am working to help out sex workers in GB Road (Delhi’s red-light district). You can’t just abandon them. I’ve sent 200 people with rations. Every day we provide cooked meals to 2,000 people, especially those outside hospitals... There are many working in the cremation area. They are not getting food.
 
Delhi Police have questioned you about hoarding medicines…
 
We are not scared, our work will not stop. If our efforts can help save lives we will continue. We have not done anything wrong.