Nikhila Vimal helps out at Kannur corona call centre

Actress Nikhila Vimal has been helping out at the Covid-19 call centre at Kannur district panchayat office, which coordinates the supply of essentials. She attends calls from the public and prepares lists of essential items including medicines they demand during the lockdown.“I joined the mission voluntarily as the help centre welcomed the participation of familiar personalities to serve the public. The mission’s motto is to make people stay home, without even getting out to buy essential items as our volunteers deliver these to their doorstep,” says the actress, adding that she talks to the callers without revealing her identity.Nikhila travels 20km from her home in Thaliparamba to reach the help centre, where she works from 10am to 5pm. “I don’t do it daily due to the respect for rules restricting travel,” she says.The activity is also helping her better understand the situation of the public, the actress says. “The big challenge we faced in the initial days was to stop panic buying. But that has come down because we ensure them the supply of most of the items they ask for. The district has a lot of joint families so the demand is more for essential items. Some people who call in are not used to smartphones and others just want to know what we have in stock. It’s a new experience for me and I am glad I could help in some way during the pandemic,” she says.As a message for the public, the actress says, “I know it’s hard for all of us to restrict ourselves and be inside our homes all the time. But we can also make it productive, by indulging in organic farming and practising growing microgreens. These will keep us occupied till the lockdown is lifted.