Corona Warrior: 95-Year-Old Woman Donates Pension, Sews Masks

Pi Nghakliani, a 95-year-old woman from Mizoram has donated her monthly pension to the state's  Chief Minister Relief Fund. But guess what, she didn’t stop here. The generous and resilient lady is now stitching masks for nurses and doctors in her area. The total number of active coronavirus cases has risen to 6,412, in India (as of writing this report) while close to 200 people have lost their lives.

Donating money

Pi Nghakliani's daughter-in-law Zothangsangi Sangpuii has revealed that the 95-year-old said that she wanted to do something for those engaged in the war against the novel coronavirus pandemic though her capacity is limited. “She says she had seen World War II and the insurgency movement in Mizoram, many others had to run to a village in Assam’s Haflong in 1966 and hide there for two years during the movement. She also said she had never seen a situation like the one created now by COVID-19 pandemic,” Zothangsangi said.

“Finally, she took a decision and donated Rs 14,500 of her late husband's one-month pension to the Chief Minister Relief Fund,” said Zothangsangi.

Read Also: Mithila Artists Are Putting Their Skills To Use By Making Masks Now

Stitching masks

Apart from donating one month's pension, Nghakliani has also taken to stitching 10-20 washable masks every day. Despite her advanced age, she has great stamina and has no problem with vision.

“There is an acute shortage of masks in Mizoram and they are expensive too. The Chinese masks, which cost Rs 10 earlier, are now being sold at Rs 100-200 per piece. So, she thought it would be nice to donate for the cause. It’s a very small gesture,” Sangpuii, said.

Nghakliani faced a scarcity of material as the shops dealing in the items she needed were mostly closed. But still, she didn’t drop the idea and managed to make it a success.

Chief Minister praises her gesture

Mizoram's Chief Minister Zoramthanga was among the many people touched by her goodwill gesture. He took to Twitter to share her story with the world.

It is a time to ask what we can do, nothing too small or too big.

“Here is an incredible story of Pi Nghakliani (95), w/o Pu Lalrinliana (L) Ex-MLA; who's not just yet done with donating her 1-month pensioner's salary to the Chief Minister's RF, yet still sew face masks and handing them out to whoever needs it!” Zoramthanga tweeted.

Read also: Lockdown To Continue Till We Find A Vaccine, Can We Get Used To This?

Who is P. Nghakliani?

Nghakliani is the wife of a lawmaker from Mizoram, named Lalrinliana. Her husband was elected to the state Assembly in 1972 when Mizoram was a Union Territory. He died in 1978. Nghakliani now lives with her youngest son at Aizawl Dawrpui Veng locality. She has previously given donations to the Bible Society and other religious organizations. The elderly woman has seven children and 20 grandchildren.

According to Sangpuii, her mother-in-law felt there should not be any political boundaries in this hour of need and challenging times.

“It is a time to ask what we can do, nothing too small or too big,” she said, quoting the granny.

Saumya Tiwari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV