MUMBAI: In a bid to vaccinate 10,000 slumdwellers in his constituency, Mulund MLA Mihir Kotecha sent out an appeal on Friday evening asking locals to sponsor a shot of vaccine for the less privileged at a cost of Rs 780 each.
In 24 hours, Kotecha had received close to Rs 10 lakh.
“It was very overwhelming for me as I felt that my people believed in doing good for the society at large,” Kotecha told TOI.
He added, “I had not even made a single call to anyone, just sent out a message through a video I circulate daily in my constituency where I inform people about the Covid situation in the area.
My plan is to enter the slums of Mulund like Indira Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, Vijay Nagar and get people vaccinated.
While I know authorities are undertaking vaccinations, I felt an initiative such as this would help in speedily vaccinating those in slums.” Kotecha said he is in talks with a private hospital to ensure vaccines are made available for the slumdwellers.
He said he wishes to ensure that T Ward of Mulund has the maximum number of people vaccinated with the first diose by next month.
He said he had also received contributions from those as young as 19 years of age.
Kotecha addded that the reason they plan to go into the slums and vaccinate is that the slumdwellers do not feel hesitant when they see other people living in their area who have taken the vaccine in front of them and are yet doing well.