Calamity Relief Work

COVID -19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019) has caused widespread devastation to the entire human life around the world. The normal standards and timeline of human behaviour completely came to an end. As per World Health Organization, it is high time that we have to find a ‘new normal’ for our day-to-day life. Lockdown was first announced in India by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with effect from midnight of March 24, 2020 for 21 days till April 14 in the first phase and, then, extended till May 3, 2020 by 19 days (Phase-2) cumulating to 40 days. It was a period of low productivity and passivity for many. But several others were tireless in their efforts, especially the health care workers and law enforcement personnel who braved the pandemic and set out to serve the afflicted to bring order, relief and peace in against many odds. St. Gregorios Dayabhavan did not sit back in this period of adversity but committed to do its bit for the community.

Dayabhavan volunteers started to distribute food kits to homeless, unemployed migrant workers, and the mentally challenged mostly found in the streets and makeshift camps of Kunigal Taluk. This was easily the most vulnerable category of people severely affected by the lockdown, as a result of closing trade and businesses and, consequently, was deprived of means of sustenance. The organization began serving parcels of food that were packed hygienically at its campus kitchen to those in the streets and camps at a rate of 150 parcels per day. There was a great deal of encouragement and support from many friends and well-wishers who helped us with cash and kind. It has been possible to serve about 18,000 food packets during the lockdown period.