COVID-19, The Year the World Stopped
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2020 wasn’t just a year. It was a moment history cracked open and poured uncertainty into every home, every city, every country. Businesses collapsed. Jobs disappeared. But nothing, absolutely nothing, mattered more than life itself.
Even as I write this, goosebumps rise on my arms.
So many lives lost. So many people left behind, living in the fear of losing someone else. It wasn’t just a global crisis. It was personal.
At the time, I was still in college. But my lectures ended by noon, and that meant I had enough time and more than enough will, to do something meaningful. So I worked full-time with Kharghar Colony Forum, an organisation that felt like home. I won’t romanticise and call it a “family”, but it was. Not because we adored each other, but because we believed, collectively, in one thing: the wellbeing of Kharghar’s people.
I saw the founders spend hours on in person meetings, solving local issues at midnight. That kind of conviction? It changes you. It changed me. And so, when COVID hit, we didn’t wait for instructions.
We identified four urgent problems, and then we built real, immediate solutions, each like a chapter in a playbook we never thought we’d need.
Problem 1: The Misinformation Epidemic
WhatsApp forwards. Baba cures. Fear-stoking rumours.
Information was everywhere and nowhere. No one knew what to believe. People were either panicking or blindly following dangerous advice.
Solution: Knowledge as Oxygen
We launched 2 to 3 webinars per week, inviting doctors, scientists, and mental health experts. We weren’t just broadcasting facts, we were restoring calm.
Over 1,000 residents tuned in weekly.
People asked questions. They felt heard. They felt held.
This wasn't just successful, this was transformational. It was the moment the community stopped spiralling and started breathing again.
Problem 2: Migrant Workers, Stranded and Forgotten
Construction had halted. Labourers, who often lived on-site, suddenly had no work, no income, and no shelter. Many needed to return to their hometowns across states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
But there was no transport. No system in place.
Solution: Trains, Buses, Tech, and Tenacity
We coordinated with government bodies and the police to arrange special trains. We built a static data collection website to register and verify migrant workers.
3,000+ workers sent safely home
Manually collected data by volunteers.
Recognised by Navi Mumbai Police as 'Corona Warriors'
Each form filled was a life helped. Every worker reunited with family felt like a silent victory.
The Certificate was presented when the Lockdown was lifted
Problem 3: No Essentials, No Access
During lockdown, movement was restricted. People struggled to buy vegetables and daily essentials. Prices soared. Local vendors were out of stock. The fear of stepping outside made basic grocery shopping feel like a life-threatening mission.
Solution: Sangram, A Temporary App, A Permanent Impact
In Sanskrit, Sangram means battle and that’s exactly what this was. A battle against inaccessibility. Against rising prices. Against uncertainty.
We built Sangram, a temporary app that quickly became a lifeline. Residents could order fresh vegetables directly from organic farmers, delivered safely to their homes. Fair prices. Zero exploitation.
No middlemen. No profit. Just purpose.
18,000 downloads in six weeks
Built and launched in four weeks
No external funding
Immediate local adoption
Sangram was more than a tech solution. It was community resilience in action. A quiet, determined rebellion against helplessness.
Problem 4: No Sanitisation. No Protection.
Problem 4: No Sanitisation. No Protection.
Slums and densely packed housing sectors were breeding grounds for infection. The Municipal Corporation was slow to act.
Solution: Sanitisation & Food Distribution Campaign
We mobilised a campaign that reached:
35 sectors of Kharghar
1,000+ people in each sector
Slums, high-rises, housing societies, no one left behind
We distributed masks, sanitisers, and food kits, sometimes at our own risk, sometimes with just gut and goodwill to guide us.
WHY THIS MATTERS?
WHY THIS MATTERS?
Because crisis doesn’t just test systems. It reveals people.
While many paused, we built. At Kharghar Colony Forum, I wasn’t just an employee, I had the space, responsibility, and ownership to drive real change.
I approached the chaos with a start-up mindset. Clear problems. Clear roadmaps. Swift execution. From launching a digital app in four weeks to leading community webinars and coordinating with local authorities, we built systems that worked under pressure.
I learned how to market initiatives with no budget. How to lead without waiting for permission.
How to communicate in crisis and stay calm in the storm. This was not just about good intentions. It was structured work with serious impact. And it taught me what it means to lead with clarity when it truly counts.
None of this would have been possible without my parents. I owe it all to them, they’re the real heroes.
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