Versha Verma

Versha Verma
वर्षा वर्मा
Versha in 2024
Born	20 December 1978 Lucknow
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Social Worker

Versha Verma (born December 20, 1978) is a Lucknow-based social worker and poet who runs a non-profit called "Ek Koshish Aisi Bhi" ^[1] which she started in 2015. Her work came to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic when she began providing free assistance to families, transporting mortal remains from hospitals to cremation grounds and performing their last rites, all while risking her own life. ^{[2] [3]}

Versha Verma in an article published by Forbes India

Early life and education

Versha was born in Lucknow into a business class family. Her father is a goldsmith, and her mother is a housewife.

Versha completed her education in Lucknow. She did her schooling from Navyug Kanya Mahavidyalaya, graduated in Arts from Avadh Girls' Degree College, Lucknow and completed her post-graduation in English from Kanpur University.

Versha was also a national-level Judo player and won many medals.

COVID-19 work

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh felicitating Versha Verma

UP Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel felicitating Versha Verma

During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Lucknow, like other cities witnessed huge number of deaths. Versha lost her best friend to COVID-19, and her body kept lying at the hospital's morgue for hours because no transportation was available to carry it to the crematorium. Those who agreed were asking for prohibitive sums of money, which the family couldn’t afford. The incident affected Versha so much that the next day, she rented a van, hired a driver and headed to the same hospital with a placard that read, “Nishulk Shav Vahan” (free vehicle for carrying the dead). ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [ excessive citations ]}

Social work

Versha has been actively involved in various social causes. When she was 14 years old, she used to provide humanitarian aid to the patients at King George Medical University, Lucknow and run errands for them. Now, through her non-profit organisation, she provides free hearse cars and ambulance service to needy families throughout the state of Uttar Pradesh. She helps in the rehabilitation of destitutes, trains young women and girls in self-defence, organises blood donation camps and arranges blood donors, and educates underprivileged children.

She delivers awareness lectures on postnatal care to new mothers at government hospitals and distributes hygiene kits. She provides ration kit to cancer patients at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lucknow, and distributes health kits to kids at pediatric cancer department of King George Medical University, Lucknow since 2016, Versha has cremated over 5,600 bodies.

Personal life

Versha's family consists of her husband, who is an Executive Engineer in Public Works Department, Uttar Pradesh. They have a daughter who is studying.

Awards and recognition

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath felicitating Versha Verma with Lalji Tandon Samajik Seva Purskar

Versha’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. She has received numerous accolades from prominent figures, including Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, former Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani and former IAS Navneet Sehgal. These awards are a testament to her impactful work and the significant difference she has made in her community.

ForbesIndia featured Versha for her daring presence and contribution during th COVID-19. ^[29]

Versha Verma with her ambulance/hearse car

Former Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani felicitating Versha Verma

Femina India & Mamaearth recognised Versha among Beautiful Indians 2022. ^[30]

Sony Pictures Networks India highlighted Versha's COVID-19 work in its campaign #GoBeyondKindness. ^[31]

References

1. "Ek Koshish Aisi bhi | एक कोशिश ऐसी भी | Genuine website Ek Koshish Aisi bhi | Call us here! 8318193805". www.ekkoshishaisebhi.com. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
2. "This UP Woman, 44, Ensures Unclaimed Bodies Get An Honourable Cremation". NDTV .
3. "Meet Varsha Varma, Who Ferries Bodies Of COVID-19 Victims And Ensures Dignity For The Dead". NDTV . 7 July 2021.
4. "Meet Lucknow's Varsha Verma, Who Is Performing Last Rites Of Unclaimed COVID Dead Bodies". The Times of India .
5. "शाबाश! महामारी के इस दौर में लखनऊ की वर्षा वर्मा मिसाल हैं". The Quint .
6. "Lucknow's Varsha Verma is proof that superheroes these days wear PPE Kits instead of capes!". Knocksense.
7. "लखनऊ की आयरन लेडी! 4.5 हजार लावारिश शवों का कर चुकीं हैं अंतिम संस्कार". Hindustan .
8. "वर्षा लावारिश लाशों का करती हैं अंतिम संस्कार, बोलीं-'दूसरों की मदद करने से दिल से मिलता है सुकून'". ETV Network .
9. "एक कोशिश ऐसी भी... सैकड़ों शवों के लिए 'भगीरथ' बनीं लखनऊ की वर्षा, दुनिया की प्रतिष्ठित पत्रिका फोर्ब्स ने भी सराहा". Amar Ujala .
10. "Real Hero : कोविड-19 के शवों को श्मशान तक पहुंचा रहीं वर्षा". Rajasthan Patrika .
11. "Caring for the dead UP woman conducts cremation of unclaimed bodies". The Week .
12. "Corona काल में लखनऊ की वर्षा वर्मा जो कर रही हैं, वो करना आसान नहीं !". ABP News .
13. "HT Salutes: UP's trio that gives dignity to dead". Hindustan Times .
14. "After Losing Friend to COVID-19, Judo Champ Ferries Thousands of Bodies to Crematorium". The Better India .
15. "This Lady With A Placard Stood Outside A Lucknow Hospital For Two Hours, Becomes One Among Many #StoriesOfHope". The Logical Indian. 26 July 2021.
16. "Lucknow Woman Varsha Verma Ferries Bodies Of COVID-19 Patients To Graveyards For Free". SheThePeople .
17. "Meet Varsha Verma, who ferries bodies of COVID-19 victims to graveyards for free in Lucknow". Asian News International .
18. "Lucknow woman starts free hearse service for Covid victims". India Today .
19. "मदद के हाथ: कोरोना मृतकों का अंतिम संस्कार करवाने वाली महिला की कहानी होश उड़ा देगी!". The Lallantop.
20. "वर्षा करती हैं अंतिम संस्कार वाला परोपकार, लावारिस शव को देती हैं अंतिम विदाई". Good News Today .
21. "Lucknow News: जिसका कोई नहीं उसकी वर्षा वर्मा.... लावारिस लाशों का करती है अंतिम संस्कार". Punjab Kesari .
22. "They Give Us Hope". Reader's Digest .
23. "Corona in Lucknow: कोरोना मरीजों को अपने नहीं लगाते हाथ... लावारिस लाशों का ऐसे दाह संस्कार कर रही लखनऊ की यह बेटी". Navbharat Times .
24. "Versha Verma helps perform the last rites of 10-12 COVID victims every day. The calls for help are increasing". Gaon Connection.
25. "लखनऊ की वर्षा वर्मा ने रूढ़िवादी परम्पराओ को तोड़ पेश की मानवता की मिसाल,600 से अधिक शवों का किया अंतिम संस्कार". News18 India .
26. "Meet Varsha Verma, who ferries bodies of COVID-19 victims to graveyards for free in Lucknow". Economic Times .
27. "This social worker from Lucknow cremates Covid-19 victims for free". Forbes India .
28. "Versha Verma's Story: Versha Verma ferried the bodies of COVID-19 victims in Lucknow for free and helped arrange their last rites". Femina (India) .
29. "This social worker from Lucknow cremates Covid-19 victims for free". Forbes India .
30. "Meet #BeautifulIndians2022: Versha Verma | FeminaXMamaearth". YouTube . 16 June 2022.
31. "Go-Beyond Kindness - Versha Verma". Facebook .