The COVID-19 pandemic has again inflicted immense misery and suffering on people, especially in and around the national capital Delhi. This year, COVID is e¬ven more devastating, creating a record in snatching away lives. It’s like a war zone in India with soldiers seen in PPE kits and people fighting with masks and sanitisers. While the patients are battling for life, both inside and outside the hospitals waiting to find a vacant bed, the kith and kin, relative or friends are battling to arrange resources to save the lives of their dear ones. Be it running pillar to post for an ICU bed, oxygen cylinder, Remdesvir injection or in worse condition, even for a PCM tablet, this toil has been really tiring for them, ignoring their own safety, immunity and health; these people have made themselves even more vulnerable to the virus attack, struggling around hospitals, empty stomachs. There are also several marginalised sections of society who are facing tremendous food insecurity and need help.
The second wave of corona, starting around April 2021 has reported 7,24,000 cases and claimed more than 45000 lives in India till 17 May 2021. It is estimated that that along with 7.2 lakh patients, around 20 lakh kins of these patients are also indirectly hit in the pandemic, left to hues and cries. The dire need is to make safer, healthier solutions for them too, so that they are able to take up the fierce battle. At the time of crisis, it’s the good Samaritans who come to the forefront and work tirelessly for the sake of the needy.
One such angel in disguise, bringing a ray of hope to people battling in this crisis is AROH Foundation, a NOIDA-based NGO. AROH has taken up a Meal Drive to distribute wholesome meals to the needy outside the hospitals, ever since the start of lockdown in UP. Taking prompt actions since the advent of the second wave, AROH’s front line warriors have been distributing food on daily basis. By far, they have distributed more than 5000 food packets around NOIDA hospitals. Along with food packets, AROH has also facilitated mask and sanitizer supply to auto rickshaw drivers, who have turned their vehicles into make shift ambulances for the patients.
How do you expect us to be sitting at homes when our nation needs us? I was shaken to see on TV news about the grim cry of my city for oxygen and ICU beds. And adding to the sufferings, the lockdown made people jobless, hungry and even more vulnerable. People, that included children, pregnant women, vulnerable elderlies were struggling for every resource to fight COVID, that too without food or safety masks. It was the moment of realization for us to get out of our comfort zones, hit out and get into action, even though we were not the real healthcare experts. But that’s what AROH is all about, since its inception in 2001, AROH has totally been dedicated in the service of underprivileged and deprived communities and to see that their development creates a productive force for the process of national development.
We started getting distress calls as soon as the lockdowns were again announced this year. People were scared, of losing jobs along with losing lives. We could help in case of jobs and lives, but we could immediately support with food. We knew that 200 – 300 packets of food every day shall not completely serve the purpose. Last year, we could distribute dry ration, but this time, there was no time. Even acquiring atta, dal and chawal could be time taking. So, we decided not to complicate things with extensive food containers and started serving rice with chickpeas curry, rajma, kadhi, soyabeans. We kept calling out people to come in support. We were overwhelmed with the help pouring in, not only with food, but with mask, sanitizers, free consultation on health etc. Many corporates like CYNEY systems, individual donors supported us generously. We are running over food van throughout NOIDA, every day and everywhere. Sometimes, the van goes looking for people in slums and gives them food.
We immediately got in touch with our respective district authorities in about 90 districts at pan India level, and started off in all possible capacities to support the government machineries in dealing with the pandemic and simultaneously being the constant support to the medical, law & order & district machineries. Through a strategic holistic approach, we stepped in to support government, people and corona fighters through all possible means.
These series of relief measures included supply of food packets and water to the needy ones, and online counseling sessions to the people in distress. The NGO specializes in grass root management in most isolated and tough locations like Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, interior Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and has worked on a large scale awareness and mobilization process in the last year COVID crisis. This year too Apart from distributing meals, AROH is actively engaged with local administration, and government towards sensitizing and awaking villagers towards Corona Immunization, Isolation and Vaccination protocols.
At present, a lot of AROH’s volunteers are engaged into psychological counseling, offline community screening and education. We have been developing corona awareness collaterals and very responsibly sharing through our social media platforms.
We have also introduced portal for online fund raising (http://arohforpeople.in/DonationCases.aspx?ID=15) so that people who are bounded by lockdown can also contribute. Outpourings of generosity during the coronavirus pandemic are part of a shift toward direct giving. These funds are very transparently utilised for uninterrupted supply of relief measures.
We understand the gravity of the situation and know that the fight is long. It will be a tough battle if the fund raised through multiple sources goes low. We are entirely dependent on these funds to keep the fight rolling. I shall request all your readers to support the cause and contribute your bit in this fight. And so request to all capable, vigilant fellow citizens to come out and help us with funds and some of your man hours. We are also open to zealous volunteers to support us.
To support AROH’s relief work, contribute at:
Account Name – AROH Foundation
ICICI Bank, Noida sector 1
Account No : 107001001302
IFSC code – ICIC0001070
Paytm – 9811046517 (Neelam Gupta)
Reach to us at www.aroh.in or write to us at arohfoundation@gmail.com
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