New restrictions in Hyderabad hit food distribution by NGOs

After the GHMC announced that passes issued to NGOs would now be invalid, some organisations have been forced to shut their kitchens, thus impacting the food distribution operations in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad (Telangana): Distribution of cooked food and ration among the poor and needy in different parts of Hyderabad and its outskirts during the ongoing lockdown has been affected by the controversial move by the municipal authorities to cancel the passes issued earlier to NGOs and individuals for relief works.

Some NGOs have been forced to shut their kitchens while individuals working to provide succor to the needy in interior areas are unable to move due to new restrictions imposed by the police since Tuesday.

With the lockdown completing a month, families of daily wagers, migrant workers and others with meager sources of income are struggling to satiate hunger. Many people, who do not even have ration cards to get 12 kg rice and Rs.500 relief announced by the Telangana government, depend on the food distributed by NGOS and philanthropists.

Shakera Begum, who lives in a small rented house in Sulieman Nagar in Rajendranagar area with her six children, has been relying on the aid distributed by philanthropists since the lockdown began a month ago. There are thousands like her who don't get any aid from the government.

At a time when scores of NGOs, various socio-religious organizations and individuals are rendering commendable service, the decision of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has come as a rude shock.

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Greater Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Ram Mohan on Monday announced that the passes issued to these groups and individuals earlier would not be valid. He instead asked them to deposit the food with the GHMC for distribution.

He came under flak from those engaged in the relief works. "GHMC and other authorities are unable to perform their own duties. They don't have additional manpower and machinery to undertake this. How can they reach out to the needy," asked activist S. Q. Masood.

Masood told a news agency that he could not go for distribution of food as the police restricted his movement in the old city. "Police seized the vehicle of my friend who was going for distribution of aid among migrant workers. He was told that his pass is no longer valid."

He said if authorities feel that distribution of food and other aid is leading to any issues ,they should try to address them in coordination with the groups concerned but asking them to stop the work and handover the food to the GHMC is not a solution.

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"It is proved beyond that in any disaster NGOs play a big role in providing relief but authorities here are not understanding this. I don't know what is the political agenda behind keeping out NGOs."

Another aid worker Affan Quadri said three kitchens in different areas were shut due to cancellations of passes. "The groups which were running these kitchens have sent the poor families they were so far taking care of to us," said Quadri who along with other aid workers have so far provided meals to over 50,000 people in 47 locations across Hyderabad.

Though Quadri and his team did not face any problems during the last two days, he said many had to stop food and other aid distribution because they were told that their passes are no longer valid.

The NGOs said lack of any written orders created uncertainty. They pointed out that even the process to get e-passes on the police portal is cumbersome. "Their intention is not to allow us to work so they came out with this system," said Masood.

(IANS Report)