Nagpur: Divided by occupations, united against hunger

NAGPUR: Rising above all hurdles of class, caste and curfew, several citizens are making food arrangements for the needy, daily wagers, stranded drivers, migrants and the elderly in different ways.
Some are providing cooked food packets daily, handing over monthly quota of groceries, while others are seeking donations and sponsorship for crowd funding. These Nagpurians, separated by occupations and personal belief, are now united against hunger.
Misal Layout (Jaripatka) Gurudwara is daily serving 500 slumdwellers on the outskirts of the city. “We decided to focus outside as usually they go unnoticed,” said Gagan Singh Raina.
Chartered accountant Shilpi Agarwal said they have provided groceries to 100 families from Khapri, Mihan, and railway station through her NGO ‘Power of One’. “The NMC has assigned us Dharampeth to provide food,” said Agarwal. Her husband Ajay, who too is a CA, had been working on the initiative.
Ashraf Ali, who works in a private company, said him and his relatives have pooled in funds for the cause. “We are serving food and will distribute kits at Central Avenue slums.”
NGO Khoka Foundation too is sending cooked food and groceries to people by going to their hometown on foot. “We will serve till the lockdown is over,” said its founder Sanjay Nagar.
Organizations like Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar based at Pachpaoli are distributing hot food to the poor and needy. So far, its young volunteers have distributed packets to over 8,500 persons, which mostly included migrants, labourers and those living in slums.
“Ever since we started, we’ve been receiving numerous calls. Even people moving to their native places in Madhya Pradesh are calling us. Most of them hadn’t had anything since the last few days and it was evident the way they were eating and thanking us. We’re serving them hot pulao, chapatis and sabji,” said Jasmit Singh, a volunteer, adding that they were also receiving foodgrains for langar from the citizens.
Rotary Club of Nagpur Ishanya is distributing packets containing foodgrains in slums at Mankapur and other areas like Bhandewadi, Nagalwadi and Isasani behind Lata Mangeshkar Hospital. “We’ve distributed 4,000 bags so far weighing 10kg each. Those contain 2kg wheat flour and rice 1kg pulses, 3kg potatoes and onions, half litre oil, six biscuit packets and a soap,” said member Kirti Agrawal, a chartered accountant.
She added that those who want to join them or donate can contact the club members or through Facebook.
A group of like-minded professionals have come together to help the needy and they’re getting overwhelming response to their drive. They’re distributing packets containing foodgrains and other essential items to the needy which would last for a month.
“We’ve so far handed over 300 bags in various areas across the city. Our target is to donate 500 bags. It contains foodgrains, oil, sugar, and even a sanitiser. We’ve received donations from a majority of our friends and we’re also contributing on our own,” said Pramod Batra, an advertisement professional.