Versha Verma

Versha Verma (born December 20, 1978) is a Lucknow-based social worker and poet who runs a non-profit called "Ek Koshish Aisi Bhi" which she started in 2015. Her work came to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic when she began providing free assistance to families, transporting mortal remains from hospitals to cremation grounds and performing their last rites, all while risking her own life.

Early life and education
Versha was born in Lucknow into a business class family. Her father is a goldsmith, and her mother is a housewife.

Versha completed her education in Lucknow. She did her schooling from Navyug Kanya Mahavidyalaya, graduated in Arts from Avadh Girls Degree College, and completed her post-graduation in English from Kanpur University.

Versha was also a national-level Judo player and won many medals.

COVID-19 work
During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Lucknow, like other cities witnessed huge number of deaths. Versha lost her best friend to COVID-19, and her body kept lying at the hospital's morgue for hours because no transportation was available to carry it to the crematorium. Those who agreed were asking for prohibitive sums of money, which the family couldn’t afford. The incident affected Versha so much that the next day, she rented a van, hired a driver and headed to the same hospital with a placard that read, “Nishulk Shav Vahan” (free vehicle for carrying the dead).

Social work
Versha has been actively involved in various social causes. When she was 14 years old, she used to provide humanitarian aid to the patients at King George Medical University, Lucknow and run errands for them. Now, through her non-profit organisation, she provides free hearse cars and ambulance service to needy families throughout the state of Uttar Pradesh. She helps in the rehabilitation of destitutes, trains young women and girls in self-defence, organises blood donation camps and arranges blood donors, and educates underprivileged children.

She delivers awareness lectures on postnatal care to new mothers at government hospitals and distributes hygiene kits. She provides ration kit to cancer patients at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lucknow, and distributes health kits to kids at pediatric cancer department of King George Medical University, Lucknow since 2016, Versha has cremated over 5,500 bodies.

Personal life
Versha's family consists of her husband, who is an Executive Engineer in Public Works Department, Uttar Pradesh. They have a daughter who is studying.

Awards and recognition
Versha’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. She has received numerous accolades from prominent figures, including Hon'ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, former Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani and former IAS Navneet Sehgal. These awards are a testament to her impactful work and the significant difference she has made in her community. Femina India & Mamaearth recognised Versha among Beautiful Indians 2022.

Sony Pictures Networks India highlighted Versha's COVID-19 work in its campaign #GoBeyondKindness.