Symbolic action towards the eradication of hunger
Among the 17 Sustainable Goals, Goal No. 2 speaks of
Zero Hunger,
it is always painful to read and accept that so many people in our country go to bed each day hungry. As we reflect on this, it is not because there is no food, but because the lack of willingness of share food with the hungry.
In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) India ranks 105th place out of 127 countries. Maybe these statistics will disturb us: 13.7% of our population is undernourished; 35.5% children under the age of 5 are stunted; 18.7% children are wasted; 2.9% children die before their fifth birthday.
Against this data we struggled to do something which would in a way bring relief to our people. This community whom we fed on the 17, October, have been displaced since 2019, due to setting of the metro lines. We have raised their issue at every level, representation of the community has reached the appropriate authorities yet their callous attitude strikes us as insensitive. Living under the open sky at night and having no place to call their own, when they return back after a hard day’s work. These harsh realities disturb us; even if it’s a single meal, it meant standing in solidarity with them. They are one of the first communities with whom we had begun work. We won many battles by opposing the bull dozer and ensuring their safety and security. This mega project hit our people badly, though they were promised, land by none other than the Principal Secretary – Urban Housing & Development department. Our struggle goes on, we persevere in our stand to be with them…may the goodness of God bring Light into their hungry and darkened lives.