As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others — Audrey Hepburn

A 95-year-old woman from Mizoram has donated a month’s pension to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as a mark of solidarity in the fight against Covid-19.

The lady, Nghakliani, is not done yet. A seamstress by profession, she is also stitching masks for frontline workers and has already donated more than 30 pieces to nurses and doctors of Grace Nursing Home here.

Her youngest daughter-in-law, Zothangsangi, also called Sangpuii, told The Telegraph, “My mother-in-law keeps saying that she wants to do something to fight the coronavirus pandemic though her capacity is limited. Moved by the hardship and financial constraints faced by the people and the government, she has donated Rs 14,500, her late husband’s one month pension, towards the CMRF.”

Nghakliani’s husband, Lalrinliana, who died in 1978, was a lawmaker. He was elected to the Assembly in 1972 when Mizoram was a Union Territory. She has seven children and lives with her youngest son, Malthantluanga, at Dawrpui locality here.

The good Samaritan actively participates in church activities and donates to Bible Society and other Christian organisations, Sangpuii said, adding that her mother-in-law wants to continue stitching masks for frontline workers despite the constraints of the ongoing lockdown. So they are trying to collect cloth from various sources to enable her to stitch as much as possible, she added. Nghakliani’s contribution has inspired many to stitch masks for health and other frontline workers.

Nghakliani’s noble deeds at a ripe old age has won the hearts of and applause from netizens.

Chief minister Zoramthanga tweeted: “Here is an incredible story of Nghakliani (95) w/o Pu Lalrinliana (L) Ex-MLA; who’s not just yet done with donating her pension to the Chief Minister’s RF, yet still sew face masks and handing them out to whoever needs it.”

The unprecedented crisis has brought out the best in people. Many in urban and rural areas are offering to help each other.

Sources said more than 400 personal protective equipment (PPE), 15,772 masks, 462 litres of hand sanitiser, 426 surgical gowns and 222 suits have been locally produced by more than 400 tailors and distributed to frontline workers through local volunteers and groups, including Vakira, PPE Volunteer Group, Champhai, and Women’s Polytechnic, Aizawl. People are also extending a helping hand to the needy by distributing vegetables and other essentials.

Recently, Zoram People’s Movement leader and Independent MLA from Serchhip, Lalduhoma, distributed in his locality vegetables grown at his farm. Farmers from Reiek and Sailam villages near here also distributed vegetables to the needy.

Official sources said more than Rs 3.4 crore has been donated to the CMRF by MLAs, government employees, churches, organisations, traders and others.

The kind deeds are certainly restoring faith in humanity.