When all those walking legs reached your home...

Since last week with the help of our friend and his foundation we are providing kits of daily essentials to the families of daily wagers, waste pickers. Few days ago we had distributed around 25 kits whereas yesterday we distributed 30 more kits.

At 11 in the morning somebody knocked on our gate. Nowadays with all this lockdown and all, this is very rare. Curiously we went outside to realised that there are around 7 women standing outside. In no time we recognised them. They were from Tambapura area of Jalgaon where we run our community learning center ‘Anandghar’. All these women who are above 65 years old works as waste pickers. Yesterday when we distributed the kits they were not at home.

They have walked almost 7 km in 40 Degree temp just with a hope that they will definitely get the kits if they will come to our place.

We were shocked. I had never expected anything like this could ever happen. Few years ago they all had come to our place to see me when I was diagnosed with dengue and jaundice.

‘Why you didn’t call? I had told others that we are going to come back in 2/3 days.” I asked.

“We knew but situation is too bad. We had nothing to eat at home. We tried reaching out to different people but it couldn’t work out. We knew that you will definitely help us, so without telling anyone we just decided that we will walk to your place.”

We asked them to come inside first and have a glass of water. We all were shocked. I called Deepak to see whether he has any kits. He immediately came home with 8 kits. Meanwhile Pranali and my parents decided to cook Khichadi for all of us.

Yes, it is true that govt. is taking quick decisions, big corporates are also helping. There are some NGOs which are working without any expectations but at the same time there are people who are using this time only for publicity, there are also people are asking poors to wait for hours only to give a only 1kg wheat or rice. There are also many people who are more concerned about from what angle they are clicking photos. Just yesterday one of the politicians has made them sit outside his house for 8 hours just to give 2 kg wheat.

“There is no food at home. Sometimes children are just drinking water and sitting at one place.”

“I am eating something after two days.”

“While eating this Khichadi, we are still thinking about our kids, who have had nothing since morning.”

We drive them to their homes post lunch.

It was matter of few days only when we all were watching news on the TV about how CORONA is creating havoc in Chine. Later we watched how it came to our country, state and in our cities too. We also watched how millions of migrant labours have started walking to their homes but trust me it hurts the most when those legs reached your home.

I don’t know whether the lockdown will be lifted post 14^th April or now not but what I know is this our responsibility to take care of the families who are suffering because of this situation. Dying of hunger is the worst form of death which nobody deserves. We are working to create more kits and also to arrange Ration for those who don’t have Ration Card. I am really happy to share that in just 12 hours we have received contribution to make 150 kits. This is going to be long struggle.

We are all in this together and together we will survive. I believe that things will change and they will change for better. Just like Andy has said, “Hope is a good thing, may the best of things and no good thing ever dies.” Together We Can!!!

-Adwait