Amid Covid-19 scare, Dimapur’s poor finds hope in kindness

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Mar. 31 (EMN): As the nationwide lockdown to fight the Covid-19 pandemic entered the seventh day on Tuesday, many society and individuals came forward, lending help to both the government and the public—proving, once again, that humanity still triumphs.

Vivekananda Welfare Foundation (VWF) has come up with an exemplary gesture by feeding the poor and needy, perhaps paving the way for more acts of kindness and compassion.

The VWF has set up a community kitchen at Dimapur District Sports Complex (DDSC) stadium, feeding more than 100 people.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, 31-year-old Bipan Singh expressed gratitude, as he was one among the hundreds who have been facing economic hardships due to the lockdown.

Singh is a daily wage earner staying at Nagarjan in Dimapur. He said that he had run out of money to even buy food or any of his essential needs, as he could no longer work to earn for his daily living. He said the lockdown had drastically affected his life and doesn’t know where his next income will come from.

“I did not eat anything since yesterday as I don’t have any money to buy food,” Singh said as he devoured the meal in front of him.

Similarly, a 26-year-old Naga youth, also a day labourer, said that he ran out of food a day back and had not eaten since. He said that the reason for his situation was the lockdown as it had left him with little choice or option to survive.

He said that the gesture of kindness towards him and many others by the VWF would always be remembered.

“I thought I would go in hunger for weeks as I didn’t have any resource or the money to survive this lockdown,” he said.

While distributing the meal at the stadium, a member of the VWF, Arijit Sharma said that the foundation had set up the community kitchen on March 30 after getting the district administration’s permission and assured that the volunteers were following the guidelines given by the administration in carrying out the community service.

Although ‘moral support of the Nagaland NGOs Forum was with VWF’, he said, till date the VWF had not received any financial aid from other NGOs and said that everything was being done by them, as of now. He added, “Any aid would mean so much” as it would be used to feed the hungry and the needy.

He also stated that since there were currently more than 120 people at the stadium, the supply had become a great challenge for them in order to feed the ever-increasing number of people at the stadium.

“We are cooking and providing food as per our resources and capability,” stated Sharma.

He clarified that the food items were served only after consulting with the people inside the stadium as to what and when they wish to eat.

He pointed out that many people, those inside the stadium, still do not have any safety kits such as masks, hand sanitisers, etc. He added that they need to be provided with them at the earliest, to ensure a safe stay for those inside the stadium during the quarantine period.

It may be mentioned that the people coming for availing the free meals are being asked to stay back so as to ensure proper lockdown in Dimapur.