Activist and National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) Maharashtra Coordinator Anita Pagare died on March 28, 2021, while undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Nashik.
The Lokshahi Utsav Samiti member received a late diagnosis for the virus leading to sickness last week. Her oxygen level dipped to the point where she was put on a ventilator. The 50-year-old is survived by a husband and two daughters.
Pagare was an influential force in the city’s women’s liberation movement, and worked to empower tribal women. She founded the Sangini Mahila Sanstha that raised awareness about HIV-AIDS in the Turbhe region of Navi Mumbai.
Her social work started as early as 1990 when she began working at the Nashik Women’s Rights Protection Committee. In 1998 she received the Youth award under the Navbharat Yuva Andolan and went on to participate in the ‘Ration Action Committee’ research project in 2001-02.
Many activists expressed their grief on receiving the news of her death. Pagare was among the many lives that were lost during the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra.
According to News18, Maharashtra recorded 31,643 fresh cases on March 29 but claimed that testing was reduced due to Holi holiday. A night curfew was announced by the state government until April 15 to restrict people’s movement without announcing a complete lockdown.
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