On March 24, the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.3 billion population of India as a preventive measure against the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in India. Due to sudden lockdown amid coronavirus, workers employed in the unorganized sector such as barbers, street hawkers, migrant labourers lost their jobs overnight and were stranded in Indian cities with no income and no savings.
As part of COVID-19 relief work, GLRA India distributed dry rations to the vulnerable families living in slums of East Delhi and Ghaziabad. GLRA India was able to provide dry ration to 600 people, who were mainly daily wage labourers, children, and people with disabilities. More than 120 families received food for one week, which will help them to fulfill their initial needs. Each dry ration kit contained -1 liter of oil, 1 kg of iodized salt, 1.5 kg of rice or wheat flour, and 1.5 kg of lentils that can be cooked for a family of four. GLRA India team was supported by Mr. Paramjeet Singh and his volunteers from the local Gurudwara Temple.
“The need is much greater than we thought,” reports the team on site. “There are thousands of other vulnerable families who are waiting for food assistance. There’s a lot to be done.”