‘Good Samaritan’ aiding 200 marginalized families in Mumbai, Pune amidst COVID-19 lockdown

Pune, 6th May 2020: Amidst COVID-19 lockdown, some ‘good samaritans’ have come forward to help the needy. Among them is Rashmi Prasad, an employee of Aide et Action International, who is aiding 200 families hailing from the marginalized section of society. She has arranged food provisions in Pune and Mumbai to enable them to tide over the joblessness in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown. As of now, food kits worth Rs. 400 each, have been distributed to 140 domestic workers. These food kits comprise rice, flour, pulses, oil, salt and sugar. Also, girls have been provided 2 reusable cloth masks and a bar of antiseptic soap. 60 families of youth, who have received training under the iLEAD programme, were provided food material worth Rs. 600 each which included kitchen supplies like rice, flour, pulses, oil, sugar, salt, turmeric powder, pickle and biscuits and sanitary products for girls. To date, she has aided 146 families in Pune and 57 families in Mumbai and it is targeting to reach out to at least 250 families. She raised funds with the help of members of her family, who actively participated in the cause.  

The COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a difficult time, especially for the underprivileged section of society. At this critical juncture, it is our responsibility to continue to reach out and support those who rely on us in whatever way we can,” said Rashmi Prasad, Project Manager-Maharashtra, Aide et Action International.

These kits were distributed through various modes according to the convenience of students and the availability of food products with the local vendors. In some cases, ration kits made by iLEAD faculty were received by needy students from the iLEAD centre and in some situations; money was paid directly to the local shopkeeper in exchange for food material to students. Social distancing norms were diligently followed during the process. 

“It is heartening that our employee has come forward to aid the marginalized section of the society in her personal capacity. As a responsible organization, we are committed to keeping them afloat during the lockdown,” said Dr. Aishwarya Mahajan, Director- Livelihood Education, South Asia, Aide et Action International.

“I am thankful to the Aide et Action team for their support during this critical juncture. The lockdown has brought many difficulties for us. Some of us are struggling to make ends meet due to loss of jobs,” said Parveen Shaikh, a beneficiary in Malad, Mumbai.  

The initiative follows a Situational Analysis study conducted by Aide et Action for iLEAD students on their employment status wherein it came to light that many families of students were reeling under temporary joblessness due to COVID-19 lockdown. 

Aide et Action International has trained more than 1500 youth in various short -term courses in Mumbai and 350 youth in Pune through its livelihood promotion programme called iLEAD (Initiative for Livelihood Education and Development). It also supports the educational need of 140 school going girls of domestic workers in the Dattawadi region of Pune.

MARATHI: 

 एड एट अ‍ॅक्शन, मुंबई आणि पुण्यातील कामगारांना खाद्य देणारी स्वयंसेवी संस्था लाक डाउन मधे अडकलेल्या मजुरांसमोर पोट भरण्याची समस्या दिवसेंदिवस वाढत चालली आहे, या परिस्थितीत ‘एड एट अ‍ॅक्शन’ नावां ची  स्वयंसेवी संस्था कामगारांना पोट भरण्यासाठी सतत व्यवस्था करत आहेत.

संस्थेच्या महाराष्ट्र  प्रमुख रश्मी प्रसाद यांच्या म्हणण्यानुसार मुंबई व पुणे या दोन्ही भागातील मजुरांची अवस्था सर्वात वाईट आहे कारण येथील व्यवसाय  पूर्णपणे बंद आहे, अशा परिस्थितीत संस्था या मजुरांच्या घरात किराणा देउन मदत करण्याचया काम करत आहे . प्रत्येक किराणा पॅकची किंमत 400 रुपये आणि दररोज डेढ शे ते दोन शे घरांपर्यंत ही मदत दिली जात आहे.

या किराणा पॅकेटमध्ये कणिक, दाल, तांदूळ मीठ, तेल आणि साखर यांचे पाकिटे दिले जात आहेत. लॉकडाउनमध्ये त्यांच्या वितरणामध्ये अडचणी येत आहेत. यासह, स्वच्छता आणि संरक्षणाची काळजी घेण्यासाठी मुखवटे आणि साबण देखील दिले जात आहेत.

एड एट एक्शन च्या  दक्षिण आशियाच्या प्रमुख डॉ. ऐश्वर्या महाजन यांच्या म्हणण्यानुसार, कोविड १ चा गरीबांवर सर्वाधिक परिणाम झाला. काम बंद झाल्यामुळे त्यांच्या घरांचा स्टोव्ह जवळजवळ बंद पडला आहे, या प्रकरणात म्हणून आई लीड  पुढाकार कार्यक्रमांतर्गत अधिकाधिक लोकांना मदत केली जात आहे.

मालाड येथील परवीन शेख म्हणाले की, काम नसल्याने आम्हाला भुकेले राहावे लागले होते, परंतु या संस्थेच्या मदतीमुळे आम्हाला खूप पाठिंबा मिळाला. आम्हाला लवकरात लवकर कामावर परत यायचं आहे.

एड अ‍ॅक्शनने आतापर्यंत मुंबईतील सुमारे 1500 स्वयंसेवक आणि पुण्यातील  350 स्वयंसेवकांना समाजात बदल घडवून आणण्यासाठी आय लीड कार्यक्रमांतर्गत प्रशिक्षण दिले आहे. तसेच पुण्यातील दत्तवाडी येथे सुमारे दीडशे कामगारांच्या मुलांची  शिक्षणाची व्यवस्था केली आहे.