From this year unlike one any of us has seen before, there are some images that are likely to stay with us for a long time. These illustrations are an ode to the people who kept the world running despite a virus’s best efforts; who survived a year of hardship and put their own safety at risk to do their jobs.
1. Doctors and health workers
Not only did doctors, nurses and other medical workers put themselves at safety at risk every day, they also had to face discrimination and stigma because they worked with those who suffered from COVID-19.
2. ASHA workers
Particularly in rural areas, ASHA workers have been central to spreading awareness on the pandemic, distributing sanitisation kits, screening migrant workers and helping school students and parents adapt to online learning. A lot of their work has gone unrecognised – particularly by the government, as in several areas their dues remain pending.
3. Ambulance driver
With hospitals across the country flooded with patients, ambulance drivers had to work harder than usual to ensure everyone made it to the medical facilities in time.
4. Funeral workers
Funerals in the times of a pandemic are not only sad events but also stressful ones – particularly in the case of COVID-19 deaths, with families unable to attend and threat of infection looming.
5. Migrant workers
The plight of migrant workers during the national lockdown, and the way they were forced to walk hundreds and thousands of kilometres back home, shocked the nation’s conscience. Now, many of them have had to go back to the cities, to find employment.
6. Farmers
We are ending this year with visuals of farmers protesting across the country, particularly on the borders of Delhi, hoping the Centre listens to them and revokes the three new farm laws.
7. Journalists
From the time of the lockdown to now, journalists have tried to make sure adequate information on everything going on is made available to the public, even if it means going into dangerous situations.