Dimapur, April 7 (EMN): The Delhi Ao Baptist Church (DABC) in Delhi has come forward with a helping hand for people who have been rendered jobless and are stuck in Delhi and the National Capital Regions due to the nationwide lockdown.
During this time of the Coronavirus pandemic, the DABC decided to form a committee called the ‘DAAT Covid-19 relief fund’ to help people working in the unorganised sector. The idea was to at least provide them with immediate essential commodities.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the coordinator of the committee Lanu Yaden said it is a small initiative taken by the church because the people are facing difficulties during an extraordinary time.
Yaden informed that there were many people working in the services sector such as call centres, small retail outlets, beauty salons, and small establishments that have been shut due to the coronavirus pandemic. He added that many Northeast region people rent places where affordable.
Although the government’s directive is clear in terms of appealing to owners of establishments to pay salaries to the staff, most of the unorganised sector establishments have shut their businesses. It is difficult to pay employees if there is no income, he said.
Considering the current situation, the church had, with elders and family members, decided to form a committee with meagre resources, he added.
The church sanctioned some funds to help the community in whatever possible way, he said. Well-wishers in and around Delhi are also said to have donated to the initiative.
‘What would a church be if the church cannot meet at least the immediate requirement of its people in this time of crises,’ he said.
When queried about the rations and delivery of it, he said the rations that are provided per individual would be sufficient for at least 10 days. The church provides dry rations, which include five kg of rice with a small amount of ‘dal,’ oil, onion, potato, tomato, chilli, tea leaves, sugar, and milk powder etc.
Yaden informed that the relief initiative has reached about 24 individuals since Monday, April 6.
‘Even today,’ he said, ‘the committee received many calls and had been trying their best to help and manage people as much as possible.’ He said the initiative is helping and providing assistance to those who come for medical treatments as well.