In the wake of the global COVID19 pandemic, that affected everyone, Samit Ray Foundation decided to make some meaningful contribution. Adamas University closed regular operations in campus on March 15, 2020, keeping with the state government’s directive. This was followed by complete closure of office operations on March 24,2020- after the central government declared national lockdown.
Campus as Isolation Centre:
In last week of March, 2020, the Prof Samit Ray, who is the Chancellor of Adamas, transferred Rs.10,00,000/- to the Chief Minister’s relief fund, and offered the campus to be used as a 1000-bed quarantine centre, along with quarters for doctors and health professionals.
Adamas was the first university in the country to have made this offer in-spite of being a non-medical university. The Honourable West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, accepted the offer following which the District Magistrate, Health Ministry officials and the Block Development Officer visited the campus to assess the suitability of the initiative. After inspection, the offer was formally actioned.
The Foundation, along with the administrative support staff of Adamas, activated the campus isolation centre to house COVID 19 suspects. Security and food court teams, worked 24X7 along with the Doctors and Healthcare staff. Along with the isolation wards, the meals and other logistics to the quarantined were provided, as also for on-duty doctors and healthcare professionals. WHO guideline-standard sanitization and other services were also provided.
As time went by – It was a sheer joy to see many of the quarantined persons leaving for home, profoundly thanking the Foundation for all the care and services.
This initiative has been widely covered by media, including PTI, The Telegraph, Times of India, Indian Express, Business Standard, Yahoo News, Anandabazar Patrika, Sanmarg, News18, ABP Ananda, Zee 24 Ghanta, Deccan Herald, India Today and Outlook.
Training Camp on Basic Hygiene and Distribution of Masks and Sanitizers
The Covid-19 being infectious, is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or exhales. One can get infected by breathing in the virus within the close proximity of someone who has covid-19 or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching eye, nose and mouth. Therefore, maintaining basic hygiene becomes imperative. The Foundation, along with the Faculty of Adamas University, undertook systematic attempts to make the people conscious about maintaining the basic hygiene.
The area of Barasat , under north 24 pargana district of West Bengal is a highly populous place and many people live in slum area . A project was initiated to step out and to reach to those people to make them aware of the importance of maintaining basic hygiene and the use of sanitizers and masks.
During December 2021, a period of “ünlock” was announced by the government. During this period, everyone wanted to go out of their homes. Thus, health and hygiene issues got mitigated – especially amongst public transport drivers. It was noticed that bus and Toto drivers were not using masks or sanitizers. The Foundation, undertook an awareness drive along with the department of Social Responsibility, Adamas University. Free masks and sanitizers were distributed and bus and toto drivers, van pullers, were made conscious about the use of proper masks and sanitizers to keep own self as well as the society safe and secure.
A “Clean Village Drive” program at the villages of Sadarpur and Jagannathpur was organized. The students of Adamas University actively participated in this program along with the Foundation members. They cleaned the school premises, the village roads and a playground. They also did a door to door campaign and make the villagers conscious about the importance of keeping clean, their home as well as their village.