COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a shocking humanitarian crisis where social distancing has made it difficult for people to help many in need. For more than two months now, labourers and workers, who had moved to cities in search of livelihood, are trying to reach their villages and hometowns back--sometimes on foot, without any proper supply of basic necessities for survival.
The NEWS is full of stories of what miseries these resilient men and women and children have to face starting from infection and deaths in these migrants due to health conditions, dehydration, starvation and more.
Even though we as citizens pity for the lives of migrant labourers and want to help them in some way, it might be difficult a task to individually do much since unlike the social activists, NGOs and famous personalities we have limited resources at our disposal and are ourselves trying to push through this pandemic.Putting in an individual effort such as feeding a homeless/jobless person in your locality might be one way of helping one person. Additionally you can also make a group of likeminded friends and citizens and with the help of your local municipal corporation, organize a proper drive to go and distribute essentials to workers who have lost their jobs, or are waiting at the bus depots and railways stations.
NGOs and many citizen-led initiatives across the country have served more than 80-90 lakh meals during this lockdown and are still going strong with the help and aid that they are trying to give the people in need. As a matter of fact, in many states, the NGOs were ahead of the government in providing relief and by donating or getting in touch with them about the way you’d want to pitch in will serve the larger perspective of helping the migrant labourers and needy, today.
Below are a few links and names of the NGOs that have actively been supplying and helping the worst hit population in our country ever since the lockdown has been implemented. It maybe worthwhile to reach out and do your bit now.
1. Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) : Provides ration kits to the poor in Mumbai.
https://covid19.ketto.org/fundraiser/help-Juveca_Panda-raise-funds-for-covid-19-relief
2. Goonj: Provides an on-ground relief, as well as they are preparing to help the labourers deal with the aftermath of the pandemic.
https://goonj.org/support-covid-19-affected
3. Prayas- A field action project by Tata Institute of Social Sciences is providing supplies to 150 vulnerable families
https://www.tiss.edu/prayas_donate/
4. JAN VIKAS: Helps daily-wage workers with basic ration supplies
http://janvikas.in/donate/
5. Chitrika: Helps the farmers, weavers, artisans and tribals in Telangana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
https://covid19.ketto.org/fundraiser/ChitrikaforCorona
6. Karwaan-e-Mohabbat: Currently feeds 5000 migrants, workers and their families every day in Delhi.
https://covid19-afpi.ketto.org/fundraiser/help-labourers-and-migrants-in-delhi
7. ActionAid India: Providing dry rations and cooked food to over 1 lakh families in 18 states across India.
https://www.actionaidindia.org/SupportCOVID-hitFamilies/