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{{Notability|Biography|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Versha Verma
| image = Versha Verma.jpg
| caption = Versha in 2024
| native_name = वर्षा वर्मा
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|20 December 1978}}
| birth_place = [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| occupation = Social Worker
}}

'''Versha Verma''' (born 20 December 1978) is a [[Lucknow]]-based social worker and poet who runs a non-profit called Ek Koshish Aisi Bhi<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ek Koshish Aisi bhi {{!}} एक कोशिश ऐसी भी {{!}} Genuine website Ek Koshish Aisi bhi {{!}} Call us here! 8318193805 |url=http://www.ekkoshishaisebhi.com/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.ekkoshishaisebhi.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=This UP Woman, 44, Ensures Unclaimed Bodies Get An Honourable Cremation |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/this-up-woman-44-ensures-unclaimed-bodies-get-an-honourable-cremation-4111541 |website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Varsha Varma, Who Ferries Bodies Of COVID-19 Victims And Ensures Dignity For The Dead |url=https://swachhindia.ndtv.com/meet-varsha-varma-who-ferries-bodies-of-covid-19-victims-and-ensures-dignity-for-the-dead-60875/ |website=[[NDTV]]|date=7 July 2021 }}</ref>

== 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. {{cn|date=March 2026}}

Versha completed her education in Lucknow. She did her schooling from Navyug Kanya Mahavidyalaya, graduated in Arts from [[Avadh Girls' Degree College, Lucknow]] and completed her post-graduation in English from [[Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University|Kanpur University]]. {{cn|date=March 2026}}

== COVID-19 work ==
[[File:Defence Minister Shri Rajnath felicitating Versha Verma.jpg|thumb|Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh felicitating Versha Verma]]
[[File:UP Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel felicitating Versha Verma.jpg|thumb|UP Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel felicitating Versha Verma]]
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).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Meet Lucknow's Varsha Verma, Who Is Performing Last Rites Of Unclaimed COVID Dead Bodies |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/lucknow-varsha-verma-who-is-performing-last-rites-of-unclaimed-covid-dead-bodies-538788.html |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=शाबाश! महामारी के इस दौर में लखनऊ की वर्षा वर्मा मिसाल हैं |url=https://hindi.thequint.com/news/states/versha-verma-performing-last-rites-unclaimed-coronavirus-dead-bodies |work=[[The Quint]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Lucknow's Varsha Verma is proof that superheroes these days wear PPE Kits instead of capes! |url=https://www.knocksense.com/lucknow/lucknows-varsha-verma-is-proof-that-not-all-heroes-wear-capes-some-don-a-ppe-kit-too |work=Knocksense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=लखनऊ की आयरन लेडी! 4.5 हजार लावारिश शवों का कर चुकीं हैं अंतिम संस्कार |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/story-up-lucknow-iron-lady-varsha-verma-cremated-4-thousand-5-hundred-unclaimed-dead-bodies-8426927.html |work=[[Hindustan (newspaper)|Hindustan]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=वर्षा लावारिश लाशों का करती हैं अंतिम संस्कार, बोलीं-'दूसरों की मदद करने से दिल से मिलता है सुकून' |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hindi/uttar-pradesh/state/lucknow/social-worker-varsha-verma-performs-last-rites-of-unclaimed-dead-bodies-in-lucknow/up20231016182059582582487 |work=[[ETV Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=एक कोशिश ऐसी भी... सैकड़ों शवों के लिए 'भगीरथ' बनीं लखनऊ की वर्षा, दुनिया की प्रतिष्ठित पत्रिका फोर्ब्स ने भी सराहा |url=https://www.amarujala.com/lucknow/lucknow-woman-varsha-varma-cremating-covid-19-victims-for-free-lucknow-news-lko579169720 |work=[[Amar Ujala]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Real Hero : कोविड-19 के शवों को श्मशान तक पहुंचा रहीं वर्षा |url=https://www.patrika.com/lucknow-news/real-hero-varsha-verma-is-cremating-corona-dead-bodies-in-lucknow-6829918 |work=[[Rajasthan Patrika]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Caring for the dead UP woman conducts cremation of unclaimed bodies |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2023/06/11/nrg1-up-woman-bodies-cremation.html |work=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Corona काल में लखनऊ की वर्षा वर्मा जो कर रही हैं, वो करना आसान नहीं ! |url=https://www.abplive.com/videos/states/lucknow-girl-versha-verma-became-an-example-during-the-corona-era-1903872 |work=[[ABP News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=HT Salutes: UP's trio that gives dignity to dead |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-s-trio-that-gives-dignity-to-dead/story-hCwTUFg33ejzh2lSa7zZXI.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=After Losing Friend to COVID-19, Judo Champ Ferries Thousands of Bodies to Crematorium |url=https://thebetterindia.com/259271/covid-judo-champ-versha-verma-ferries-bodies-crematorium-ambulance/ |work=[[The Better India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This Lady With A Placard Stood Outside A Lucknow Hospital For Two Hours, Becomes One Among Many #StoriesOfHope |url=https://thelogicalindian.com/humaninterest/spotify-29856 |website=The Logical Indian|date=26 July 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lucknow Woman Varsha Verma Ferries Bodies Of COVID-19 Patients To Graveyards For Free |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/lucknow-varsha-verma-ferries-bodies-of-covid-19-patients-crematoriums-free/ |website=[[SheThePeople]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Meet Varsha Verma, who ferries bodies of COVID-19 victims to graveyards for free in Lucknow |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/meet-varsha-verma-who-ferries-bodies-of-covid-19-victims-to-graveyards-for-free-in-lucknow20210422012644/ |work=[[Asian News International]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Lucknow woman starts free hearse service for Covid victims |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/lucknow-woman-starts-free-hearse-service-for-covi-victims-1795610-2021-04-27 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=मदद के हाथ: कोरोना मृतकों का अंतिम संस्कार करवाने वाली महिला की कहानी होश उड़ा देगी! |url=https://www.thelallantop.com/news/post/varsha-verma-provides-free-ambulance-service-and-take-covid-19-positive-dead-bodies-from-hospital-to-the-cremation-ground-corona-coverage |work=The Lallantop}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=वर्षा करती हैं अंतिम संस्कार वाला परोपकार, लावारिस शव को देती हैं अंतिम विदाई |url=https://www.gnttv.com/shows/desh-ki-baat-sunati-hoon/video/varsha-lucknow-doing-free-cremation-those-who-are-destitute-447150-2022-09-14 |work=[[Good News Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Lucknow News: जिसका कोई नहीं उसकी वर्षा वर्मा.... लावारिस लाशों का करती है अंतिम संस्कार |url=https://m.up.punjabkesari.in/uttar-pradesh/news/lucknow-news-up-s-varsha-verma-performs-last-rites-of-unclaimed-dead-bodies-1837760 |work=[[Punjab Kesari]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=They Give Us Hope |url=https://www.readersdigest.in/cover-story/story-they-give-us-hope-127271 |website=[[Reader's Digest]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Corona in Lucknow: कोरोना मरीजों को अपने नहीं लगाते हाथ... लावारिस लाशों का ऐसे दाह संस्कार कर रही लखनऊ की यह बेटी |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/lucknow/other-news/lucknow-versha-verma-is-real-hero-criminating-corona-dead-bodies-like-this/articleshow/82160824.cms |work=[[Navbharat Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Versha Verma helps perform the last rites of 10-12 COVID victims every day. The calls for help are increasing |url=https://en.gaonconnection.com/covid-deaths-cremation-lucknow-uttar-pradesh-corornavirus-second-wave/ |work=Gaon Connection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=लखनऊ की वर्षा वर्मा ने रूढ़िवादी परम्पराओ को तोड़ पेश की मानवता की मिसाल,600 से अधिक शवों का किया अंतिम संस्कार |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-varsha-verma-of-lucknow-set-an-example-of-humanity-by-breaking-the-orthodox-traditions-cremated-more-than-600-dead-bodies-3889670.html |work=[[News18 India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Meet Varsha Verma, who ferries bodies of COVID-19 victims to graveyards for free in Lucknow |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/meet-varsha-verma-who-ferries-bodies-of-covid-19-victims-to-graveyards-for-free-in-lucknow/articleshow/82191194.cms |work=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This social worker from Lucknow cremates Covid-19 victims for free |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/covid19-frontline-warriors/this-social-worker-from-lucknow-cremates-covid19-victims-for-free/68047/1 |website=[[Forbes India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Versha Verma's Story: Versha Verma ferried the bodies of COVID-19 victims in Lucknow for free and helped arrange their last rites |url=https://www.femina.in/mamaearth-beautiful-indians-2022/goodness-stories/versha-verma/884 |website=[[Femina (India)]]}}</ref> {{excessive citations inline|date=June 2024}}

== 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's Medical University|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 5,600 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 ==
[[File:Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath felicitating Versha Verma.jpg|thumb|Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath felicitating Versha Verma with Lalji Tandon Samajik Seva Purskar]]
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.

[[Forbes India|ForbesIndia]] featured Versha for her daring presence and contribution during th COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news |title=This social worker from Lucknow cremates Covid-19 victims for free. |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/covid19-frontline-warriors/this-social-worker-from-lucknow-cremates-covid19-victims-for-free/68047/1 |work=[[Forbes India]]}}</ref>
[[File:Versha Verma with her ambulance-hearse car.jpg|thumb|Versha Verma with her ambulance/hearse car]]
[[File:Former Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani felicitating Versha Verma.jpg|thumb|Former Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani felicitating Versha Verma]]
[[Femina (India)|Femina India]] & [[Mamaearth]] recognised Versha among Beautiful Indians 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet #BeautifulIndians2022: Versha Verma {{!}} FeminaXMamaearth |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_JBFHGUkQw |website=[[YouTube]]| date=16 June 2022 }}</ref>

[[Sony Pictures Networks]] India highlighted Versha's COVID-19 work in its campaign #GoBeyondKindness.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Go-Beyond Kindness - Versha Verma |url=https://www.facebook.com/sonypicturesnetworks/videos/304012768045223/ |website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verma, Versha}}
[[Category:People from Lucknow]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Judo people]]

Versha Verma - Revision history

Swertvver: Data