MEET THE MASK MAN OF INDIA BASAVARAJU SRINIVAS

• BNITIMES.COM/ Bureau News / Editor Vishal Sharma / 29 June 2023 17: 40

Hyd : Sri Basavaraju Srinivas has been awarded the title “The Mask Man of India” by the HMTV, endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

There is a significance to this Man, his service, and the title he received. Let us learn a little bit about this great social worker.

WHO IS BASAVARAJU SRINIVAS?

Sri Basavaraju Srinivas hails from Telangana, India. He is a chairman of an NGO called BSSF – Bharat Seva Sahakaar Forum.

Prior to this, he worked as a National Council Member, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). Indeed, Mr. Basavaraju Srinivas is with BJP since its inception.

Later he served Praja Rajyam Party AKA PRP as a state General secretary in United Andhra Pradesh.

PRP (Praja Rajyam Party) eventually merged into Indian National Congress. He was appointed as Telangana Congress State Secretary – Protocol.

Despite his long political tenure, Mr. Basavaraju Srinivas is more inclined towards social service from the beginning. He was a man of ethics and remained same till today.

WHAT IS BSSF?

BSSF originally named as Basavaraju Srinivas Service Front which was founded way back in 2008 by Mr. Basavaraju Srinivas to serve the needy.

BSSF slogan is Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai NauJawan, the three main pillars of our nation.

BSSF formed with the idea of serving uniformed forces and farmers who are the backbone of our country. But within no time it extended its services to people from all walks of life.

Services include fight for school and college fee waivers, reimbursements, woman empowerment, human rights, blood donation camps, financial aid to orphanages and old age homes are few to name.

Mr. Basavaraju Srinivas is very clear about his vision, and he understands what it takes to build an NGO at a great magnitude. He therefore concentrated on building a great team i.e., volunteers across the country.

Rome was not built in a day. Likewise, it took time for everything to fall into place, but the rest is history.

BHARAT SEVA SAHAKAAR FORUM (BSSF)

Already the term BSSF became so popular, so the advisors suggested to keep it intact instead only change its abbreviation from Basavaraju Srinivas service front to Bharat Seva Sahakaar Forum. Therefore, all members can feel a sense of accountability and draw an inspiration.

25th March 2020 – the day India went into lockdown due to the global pandemic covid 19. There was uncertainty everywhere.

The lockdown has taken a toll on poor and middle-class sections. The entire supply chain management system was put to a pause. Everybody was confined to their homes. Those days were unprecedented and unpredictable.

Mr. Basavaraju Srinivas thought it was not just the government’s task, but it is also a responsibility of each NGO, social worker, and volunteer to come forward and do their bit for the society.

Basavaraju Srinivas was among those very first few who came for the rescue of people voluntarily.

BSSF started its services in lockdown from day1 to 700 days uninterruptedly. Later, there was no looking back. It continued till date.

BSSF first distributed face masks, PPE Kits, sanitizers, water dispensers, face shields, N95 masks, Food, groceries, clothes, and financial aid to Front line warriors like (Police department, GHMC workers, Bankers, Doctors, Medical staff, Print and Electronic media etc.)

Later they were distributed in large numbers to two Telugu speaking states Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Eventually the service has been spread across the country through BSSF volunteers.

After distributing 51,40,000 (Fifty-one lakhs, forty thousand) masks across India, Mr. Basavaraju Srinivas has been awarded with the title “The Mask Man of India” by the HMTV, endorsed by Ministry of Culture, Government of India at the National Cultural Festival, Hyderabad.