Responding to Covid – 19 – Second Phase -2
The second wave of Covid did pose a huge challenge to us, mobility was next to impossible and we could not reach out to the communities. Somehow we managed to get some financial support to reach out to the most distressed communities. Due to financial crunch we had to identify those who were very badly off. Procuring food grains at wholesale in order we could reach out to at least some of the neediest was our focus. We monitored the fair price shops and worked as a pressure group to ensure our people got at least rice and wheat. Some of the rice was not edible; and we felt we needed to give them rice and protein as nutritious food supplement. So, our packet contained of 5 kgs rice, 2 kgs, gram dal, 2 kgs masoor dal, 2 kgs channa, soya nuggets 250 gms, salt and 500 gms sattu ( roasted gram flour), which people take in the summer months.
The team swung into action – packing the food stuff, it took us a week to get the food packets ready. After which we planned the distribution of the slips to the neediest persons. It was difficult to choose the families. Yet were happy that we could reach out to 550 families though there are so many more who need food supplement.
It has been a very painful time as we grapple with loss of livelihood and unemployment……no work means…..no food for some of our people especially those who work on construction sites, as domestic help and petty shopkeepers and beggars