A primary school teacher in West Burdwan’s Jamuria has taken up the initiative to get pregnant women and lactating mothers, most of whom are tribals, vaccinated as part of his “responsibility” towards society.

Three months ago, Deep Narayan Nayak, popularly known as “Rastar Master (Master of Streets),” conducted a survey at villages around Tilka Maji Primary School where he teaches and found that most villagers were yet to take Covid vaccines. He also found that they did not even apply for vaccination.

“The villagers have a notion that people are dying after vaccinations and so they were reluctant. I counselled them, informing them about the danger of a possible third wave of Covid and convinced them to take the vaccine. Being a teacher of the local school, I have a positive influence on them and I exploited that,” said Nayak.

While he registered the names of 719 pregnant women and lactating mothers in the Cowin app, Nayak contacted the local government health centre for the vaccination drive.

The Centre and state government have taken up an initiative to vaccinate pregnant women and lactating mothers on a priority basis. “I applied on the Cowin app on behalf of them with documents two months ago,” said Nayak.

The vaccination programme started from July 20 and on the first day 100 women from half a dozen villages were vaccinated at Akhalpur Health Centre in Jamuria.

Nayak hired a bus to carry the women to the health centre and drop them back home. “I have bought them food and paracetamol tablets it they if required to treat post-vaccination effects. I am monitoring their health,” he said.

“We thought that if somebody takes the vaccine they will die immediately. Rastar Master convinced us and we are thankful to him for saving our lives,” said Puja Hansda, one of the women who was vaccinated on Wednesday.

Rest of the pregnant women and lactating mothers will be vaccinated in phases. “Many of the women are mothers of my students. I will take a similar initiative once vaccines for minors arrive,” he said.

Nayak became to be known as “Raster Master” after he started taking informal classes under trees or on the streets since last year to beat the prolonged lockdown.

He used to take classes so the students do not drop the habit of going to school and studying. He serves them books, copies and tiffin to his students. He uses his salary to meet the expenses.

“I have been getting salaries without working since last year and so it is my duty to do something for the society. I am thankful to the doctors and nurses at the health centre,” said Nayak.

Block medical officer of health Abinash Beshra said the initiative was good. “The teacher approached us for his initiative and we too cooperated with him. It is a good initiative,” he said.