Mumbai Based Group 'Hunger Collective' Feeds Poor Families To Fight Hunger During The COVID-19 Crisis
Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country and a nationwide lockdown was imposed, a group of young professionals came together to start an initiative called 'Hunger Collective' which aims to address the issue of hunger among the poor and distressed families in the country. Formed on March 28, four days after the lockdown was imposed, 'Hunger Collective' is now working in many districts across the country like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Faridabad, Satara, Udgir, Maheshwar, Roha, Arrah among others.
According to Rajashri, Hunger Collective uses WhatsApp communication channel to authenticate the demand for food where needed. It has collaborated with several NGOs and government authorities to provide relief to the daily wagers and others who have lost their livelihood during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The initiative has also raised over one crore with support from over 90,000 people across India including various citizen organisations and individuals to continue the relief work. Rajashri said, 'By the end of April, when people ran out of money and even NGOs started running out of money, we started doing our own fundraiser.'
Apart from providing food and ration kits, another initiative that Hunger Collective had undertaken was supporting the migrant workers from Tamil Nadu who were stranded in front of railway stations. The collective also assisted the migrant workers in returning to their homes via 'Shramik Special train' that was operated by the railways to transport stranded migrant workers to their home states.
Hunger Collective has also donated over 1,000 PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) kits in the COVID-19 relief centre in Mumbai. With an aim to help protect the frontline warriors like doctors and other healthcare personnel, the collective provides them with PPEs, masks, and medical equipments like oximeters.
Nearly 20 lakh children live on the streets of India, without an identity, a name to call their own, a place to call home, sleeping on empty stomachs for days and nights. These twenty lakh are children, who have dreams, who have rights, who are our tomorrow. They are living in the shadows today.
During these unprecedented times, not everyone can afford the privilege of social distancing. And not everybody can stay home during the lockdown, simply because they don’t have a home. Those living in poverty are extremely vulnerable, struck with a sudden lack of funds, food, mobility and a struggle for survival. And, as with all humanitarian crises, it is the children who have been affected the most.
It is always the children on the street who are subjected to some of the harshest realities of life. Today they are battling a catastrophic crisis, and it’s time we step in to protect them.
As a part of our COVID-19 response, Save the Children is working across various regions and has already directly reached over 18,000 children and adults to cover their basic needs. The organisation is ensuring their daily needs and their dignity and hygiene are also being cared for. Save the Children has identified 2.5 lakh children in cohorts, across 10 cities in India. Reaching out to these children with emergency relief is a top priority. But this cannot be done alone.
Save the Children and NDTV join hands to bring focus to the lives of children living in street situations. As India fights the Coronavirus, we must not forget one of the most marginalised and excluded groups whose lives have been long ignored – street-connected children. The 21-day campaign will generate public interest and raise funds to ensure these 20 Lakh+ children who live, earn, sleep and eat on our streets are cared for and protected. Amidst the crisis the world is facing, they are most vulnerable, exposed to infection and disease.