New Delhi: Ever since the government announced a nation-wide lockdown due to the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, normal life has come to a complete standstill with the poor and the underprivileged section of people, daily wage labour and small businesses remain affected the most.
The marginalised sections of the society like the beggars and the daily wage labourers in the capital city's Safdarjung enclave area, are facing a tough time. The work of the daily wage labourers came to a grinding halt due to the lockdown and they are stuck inside the construction sites due to travel restrictions.
In a humanistic approach and realising the plight of the labourers, the Office of the Municipal Councillor, Safdarjung Enclave ward has come up with an initiative to distribute hygienically prepared home-cooked food in different locations including Safdarjung enclave, Green Park, Hauz Khas Village, Safdarjung Development Area. This came as a sigh of relief for the underprivileged.
While speaking to ETV Bharat, Radhika Abrol Phogat, Councillor, Safdarjung Enclave, SDMC stated, "India is in a crisis and for a country with such huge population fighting the pandemic, is in itself a challenging task. More cooperation is expected from the people and social distancing is the need of the hour and everyone should comply with that".
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"When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, there has been growing concern among people as to how the daily wage labourers or the lesser privileged section of people would survive. Early notification of evacuating the sites should have been issued to the construction managers as the labourers are stuck inside now. So, we decided to provide a helping hand to those affected. We are distributing food in different locations from last three days", added Abrol.
Later, she informed that home-cooked food (including dal, chawal and sabji) ensuring hygiene and safety are being distributed and the members are also taking precautionary measures while handing over the essentials.
A team of 6 members of the office of the Municipal Councillor are engaged in reaching out to people and so far, more than 250 underprivileged people in different locations, under the ward are benefited.
Abrol further urged all to stay safe and maintain self-isolation until asked to do so, to fight the pandemic which is expected to be outside the realm of possibility.
Moreover, lauding the efforts of the citizens, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to twitter and wrote, “On behalf of all Delhiites, I want o thank all the social, religious and other organisations who have come forward to provide relief in these difficult times. You are all serving humanity and your nation in this period of crisis”.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister announced a package worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore for poor and the daily wagers to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak.
