Volunteers run the Anna Hazare show

Right from draining out rainwater manually, to picking up garbage and distributing free packets of food and water to the supporters, the volunteers did all this and much more to make the indefinite fast called by Anna Hazare, a success.

Right from draining out rainwater manually, to picking up garbage and distributing free packets of food and water to the supporters, the volunteers did all this and much more to make the indefinite fast called by Anna Hazare, a success.

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There was no distinction between the official volunteers and the local residents who started offering free food packets and water to the supporters.

The volunteering activity began as soon as Anna Hazare stepped out of prison, with businesspersons and residents of Janakpuri, Lajwanti and Mayapuri along with India Against Corruption (IAC) members stepping in to aid in the process.

“When the procession moved from Tihar Jail to Mayapuri via Lajwanti, local residents distributed food packets and water to people,” said Ramesh Chand, a factory worker at Mayapuri.

Having donned Anna Hazare caps and t-shirts, an energetic group of 50 to 75 supporters proclaimed their resolve to end corruption. “This is nothing compared to what Annaji is doing for the country,” said Rakesh Sharma, a student of Hansraj College who was using his hands to take out the water.

“Let it rain as much as it can — our numbers will only increase with each downpour,” he further added. However, the movement at the Ramlila Maidan, according to organizers, is being entirely orchestrated by the volunteers at IAC as against the paid staff. A separate booth to register volunteers, both part time and full time, has been set up near the information centre at the Ramlila maidan.

A form must also be filled in, which will furnish the time a person can spend in volunteering activity.