We had been talking about the need for a cross-cultural solidarity amongst our people, at every Sarfaroshi meeting. We needed to demonstrate how this made practical sense. In times of COVID, free medical aid was an absolute dire need, especially in a place where the public health system was in tatters.

So we ran a public health campaign across villages, across all five administrative blocks and every community of Shamli district. We had a one-point demand from the district administration. We wanted free medical checks and medicines with the setting up of village medical camps.

And the district magistrate Jasjit Kaur inaugurated the first camp along with the chief medical officer Sanjay Aggarwal. 

Our camps and our Sarfaroshi leaders were written about in the local newspapers, sending the message across the district loud and clear – a united front is the most effective way to be. And to get anything done.