ISKCON BANGALORE lends hand to the needy with the COVID-19 relief programme
The Covid-19 outbreak, which started in China, has now spread across the globe, and has led to a major health crisis affecting the lives of millions of people and has resulted in an economic slowdown. India, the 2nd largest populated country in the world, is currently at a very high risk and the government is taking all the necessary steps to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Government of India has announced a 21-day complete lockdown to contain COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which has affected the lives of people in every section of life, especially vulnerable communities like migrant labourers and homeless people.
The Government, on its part, is implementing various relief efforts to help them. In response to the current Covid-19 situation in India, ISKCON-Bangalore through its initiative The Akshayapatra Foundation has started relief work intervention in many parts of the country by providing grocery kits and free meals to homeless shelters, daily wage earners and other underprivileged beneficiaries in coordination with the local district administration. With the proactive support of corporate partners, individual donors and motivated volunteers who have selflessly come forward at this hour of need, we are striving to comfort people, either through cooked meals or through food relief kits.
The meal preparation is taken care by Akshaya Patra centralised kitchens and the distribution is being managed by the District Administration at Anganwadi centres and slum areas.
ISKCON Bangalore through Akshayapatra Foundation has been arranging for food relief kits to be distributed to as many people as possible in Bengaluru (Karnataka) and other locations. These kits will comprise of items like rice/flour, tur dal/mung dal, chana, sunflower oil, spices such as turmeric, jeera, and dhaniya powder, sambar masala/garam masala, and pickle.
They will also contain vegetables with longer shelf-life, such as potatoes and pumpkins. Each of these food kits will be sufficient to prepare two meals a day for an adult for about 21 days. We will commence distributing these food relief packets as soon as possible.
Speaking about these efforts, Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President, ISKCON Bangalore and Chairman, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “We solemnly stand committed to working with the Government of India and State/UT Governments and render all possible services to the people of our nation in these difficult times. ISKCON Bangalore & Akshaya Patra has always strived to assist the Government’s efforts and bring relief to people during crises. I am extremely grateful to the various Governments, our corporate partners, individual donors, motivated volunteers, and all our well-wishers for their support. Our efforts are driven by the earnest hope that the situation will improve soon and normalcy returns. Until then, we will continue to work together and serve the people in need during this COVID-19 outbreak.”
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