Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 3, 2020)

Senior actress Nafisa Ali Sodhi, stuck in her Goa residence with a depleting stock of medicines and food supplies because of the lockdown, got some relief on Thursday when the local administration swung into action to help her out, after reading her social media post.

“A group of about 15 government officials visited me. I expressed my concerns and told them that they need to sell the basics door to door, using vendors. I also made it clear that I was speaking on behalf of the local community, more than for myself. I requested the police to be kinder and humane towards those who are stepping out to buy essential supplies and medicines. They also asked me about my medicines and said they would try and get them for me,” she told us. Nafisa is a cancer survivor and the medicines her husband had couriered her have been stuck in Delhi because of the lockdown.

Earlier in the day, she told us, “It has been two days since the shops have begun to open here (near Morjim in North Goa), but they’re not nearby and we’ve been asked to walk and not take vehicles. It takes hours in the queues and shops don’t have volunteers to deliver the stuff to people’s homes. It’s been quite difficult for people to contact with each other.”

A few days ago, the actress had posted a tweet, marking the Prime Minister about her niece who had tested COVID-19 positive after returning from Switzerland. Thankfully, she has recovered, Nafisa confirmed.