Munish Sood
MANDI: In the flood-ravaged region of Seraj in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh where promises by leaders have remained empty and relief efforts delayed, one man without title, position or political backing has emerged as the face of hope.
Sarabjeet Singh “Bobby”, a shoe shop owner from Lower Bazar in Shimla, is quietly doing what crorepati ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats have so far failed to deliver: meaningful and immediate relief. While helicopters hover, photo opportunities are staged and statements are issued, Bobby is wiring money directly into the accounts of flood-affected families.
₹25,000 direct aid per family
“I have promised the people of Seraj that I will beg if I have to, but I won’t let them suffer,” Bobby wrote in a public message this week. He has already issued 200 forms for direct cash assistance of ₹25,000 per family and has placed another 300 on hold, awaiting more funds. “Every paisa will go directly to the victims, not through middlemen or committees,” he said.
This comes at a time when no elected official, not even local MLAs, has committed a rupee of personal contribution, let alone action on the ground. State government employees have not even pledged a day’s salary, despite drawing stable paychecks throughout the crisis.
From relief supplies to transparent system
Bobby has already delivered two truckloads of emergency supplies to Seraj, including over 5,000 kg of rice, 1,800 kg of pulses, 1,500 blankets, 600 sleeping mats and utensils worth thousands, without a government escort or institutional funding. He operates under a registered charitable trust and provides full transparency, issuing official receipts to every donor.
Receipts are available at two public counters: one beneath the dental college parking at IGMC Hospital in Shimla where he runs a daily langar for poor patients and the other at his own shoe store in Lower Bazaar. Donors contributing online are asked to share their payment details and Aadhaar for verification before receiving receipts.
Bobby has explicitly warned the public not to entertain any unauthorised collection agents: “I have never gone door to door asking for donations, and I never will. If someone comes to you in my name, refuse them.”
11 Years of Unbroken Service
This isn’t a sudden act of charity. For over a decade, Bobby and his volunteers have operated a free daily langar (community kitchen) at both IGMC and Kamla Nehru Hospital, feeding thousands of patients and attendants every day. He also runs a free funeral van service that has transported thousands of unclaimed bodies with dignity. His blood donation drives have consistently supplied the state’s largest hospitals with vital reserves. He does all of this while running his modest shop.
Missing in action: Ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats
The contrast is jarring. While businessmen have come forward with visible donations, elected representatives and senior bureaucrats have offered nothing beyond tweets, statements and token visits. None have stepped forward with personal financial support or physical presence in the devastated villages.
Not one minister has pledged to match Bobby’s initiative. Not one MLA has walked the distance he has, or even set foot in the homes of the flood-hit.
“This is not about me. This is about what each of us must do. I’m a small man — I sell shoes for a living. But if I can do this, what’s stopping those who run the system?” he asked.
He is currently coordinating verification of filled forms through local volunteers. Once cleared, each family will receive ₹25,000 directly into their bank accounts, a sum they can use freely, whether for rebuilding homes, buying medicine or restocking essentials.
For those wishing to support Bobby’s cause, his donation counters remain open daily from 10 am to 7 pm in Shimla. He is available personally at the IGMC hospital langar from 12 noon to 2 pm and on call (9 am to 7 pm) at 9418061000.
