Several NGOs, organisations or volunteers in Delhi, some via social media, are offering food delivery service to those Covid-19 patients quarantined at home. Humanity, it seems, isn’t dead

India is in the grip of a second wave of Covid- 19. In these trying times, when cases are spurring and the death toll is rising everywhere, the nation needs the efforts of good people coming forward to help those in need. 

In the Capital city, some good samaritans are doing this by providing food for Covid- 19 patients. These good Samaritans include politicians, citizens, NGOs, business persons, temples, Gurudwaras, mosques — who are ensuring food is delivered at doorstep.

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara committee is one such organisation delivering food to Covid patients. “Those families of Covid patients, where nobody is there to cook, our volunteers are delivering hygienic food. Automatic machines here at Bangla Sahib are preparing hygienic food,” said M.S Sirsa, president Sikh Gurdwara Committee. 

Family of Covid patients have to just inform the Gurudwara committee — they have issued some contacts that are being circulated on social media platforms. Volunteers, then deliver food at doorstep. Not just that, they are also organising langers at several locations in Delhi for labourers, and hungry people.

In west Delhi’s Rajouri Garden, a gurdwara is sending food for Covid patients.

In this list, a team of 27 volunteers of Youth Welfare Association (Delhi), a non-profit organisation is also delivering food in Green Park, Safdarjung area, Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, Defence Colony and adjoining areas. Raghav Pal Mandal, president of YWA told IANS that they haven’t started a dedicated kitchen for Covid- 19 patients, instead their volunteers are preparing food at their home.

International Society of Krishna consciousness is also offering food at doorstep to senior citizens, pregnant women and Covid patients in south west Delhi. They have also issued a helpline number.

Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook are increasingly being used by people to offer help and take help; from oxygen to ICU beds — — people are coming to offer help. Several google docs have been prepared for Covid related resources. 

For food, which is one of the basic necessities, several volunteers shared their contacts, and some wrote on social media that they are delivering free food. 

Pooja Bahri, a visual artist wrote on twitter, “If any COVID +ve patient quarantined at home near New friends Col or Gk2 needs home cooked food delivered to them pls DM me. Have been in the situation myself & know how difficult it is to fend for yourself in this condition.”

Similarly, Journalist Karnika Kohli offered food for patients living in south Delhi. “If you are in south Delhi and living on your own and need food please ping me. Nothing fancy but I will make dal chawal and sabzi for you and get it to your place. You just take a rest, quarantine and get well soon.” She shared on social media.

To those who can afford, house of kitchen, a platform for home chefs in Delhi- NCR is providing home cooked food to Covid patients at reasonable rates. They claim that “HOK has over 70 Home Kitchens catering to every part of Delhi NCR, serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.” Likewise many restaurants are offering food for Covid patients in all parts of Delhi.

Last year too, when the nation was in lockdown many people came to help migrant labourers by offering food. However, due to lockdown there were not many volunteers who couldn offer help. This time, the situation has changed. More volunteers are offering help.

 (Cover: Bangla sahib Gurudwara Committee  / Credit twitter)