Meet Mauris Noronha, The Mumbaikar Who Spent His Life’s Savings And Stepped Up For Society's Most Vulnerable During COVID-19 Pandemic
Mauris Noronha’s efforts during COVID-19 pandemic have been commendable. From spending his life’s savings to help COVID warriors, to standing at traffic signals holding a placard asking people to help the needy- this Mumbaikar personifies the iconic ‘spirit of Mumbai’ in the true sense
These have been extraordinarily challenging times, with the spread of Coronavirus pandemic all over the world. Apart from the alarming health crisis, people have been grappling with several other pressing issues. Ever since the lockdown was imposed, a lot of people have lost their jobs, and the economically weaker sections of the society have been significantly affected. Amid all this, Mauris Noronha, a Mumbaikar who hails from Borivali, dedicated himself to taking care of not just the underprivileged, but also COVID warriors. In doing so, he spent his life’s savings, and his relentless efforts during COVID-19 pandemic have been commendable.
Mauris, in the last 5 months, has provided rations to over 6 lakh people! He has also sent help to many migrant workers and he also served the advocates of our city. While speaking about the same to Radio Nasha’s Rohini Ramnathan, Mauris said that since lockdown began he had been distributing food ration in Dahisar-Borivali slums. However, as few weeks passed, he realized that the COVID warriors such as police, or ambulance drivers, do not have access to PPE kits, sanitizers. He then decided to help the needy as well as the COVID- warriors and would often give water to the police at checkpoints.
What’s more- Mauris does not believe in donations at all! He says that he will continue to serve people as long as he has money. He has so far used his life’s savings to help the needy. While he had plans to pay off his loans and migrate to the USA, he instead decided to use up the money for a noble cause. Until he runs out of money, he says he will continue to serve people, but will not take donations.
However, money is a limited resource, but that does not deter Mauris from his mission! He is contributing in any way that he can, so he holds a placard and stands at traffic signals. The message on the placard reads, “Please help the needy fight hunger during COVID 19. Serve 3-4 people around u.” Mauris Noronha feels that even if only 1 or 2 people serve others, he will feel that his efforts are all justified.
Mauris walked from Borivali to Bandra on September 8, and educated people on maintaining social distance while distributing masks and sanitizers at the same time. His work has been appreciated and recognized by Mumbaikars.
This Mumbaikar continues to inspire many. One of those who got inspired from him is a man named Ashutosh Hadkar who is a painter. After getting to know about Mauris' work, he painted his photo on a wall in Marol Naka, Andheri East, Mumbai. Ashutosh doesn’t know Mauris personally. A FB post shared by someone brought his attention to the work done by Mauris and since then he started following his work. He got thoroughly impressed by the selfless work done by Mauris and thus wanted to paint a picture of his hero. He feels in these times a common man who does not take donations from anyone and goes out of his way to help people with ration kits, helps the police personnel, lawyers, BMC staffers, auto guys etc needs to be felicitated and doing a painting is his way of offering his tribute.
Ashutosh also shared that if he had a chance to paint his hero on a building, he would have done that too too.
Ashutosh Hadkar's painting of Mauris Bhai
We think Mauris indeed personifies the iconic ‘spirit of Mumbai’ in the true sense!
Image Source: Instagram/maurisbhai
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