Delhi is in the spotlight as it struggles with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite various challenges of the staff and their families being affected by Covid-19, Don Bosco Organisation for Social Concern and Operation of the Salesian Province of New Delhi (BOSCO Delhi) has been supporting the Delhiites with courage and fearlessness.
BOSCO Delhi has distributed dry ration to support 700 families and plan to reach out to 10,000 families with ration support in this month of May. Cash assistance of Rs. 3000/ each has been given to 200 migrants and refugees in Delhi/NCR region to meet their basic expenses like rent. Bosco Delhi hopes to support another 500 more such vulnerable families especially women headed families and elderly without support. Through a dedicated team of medical social workers and doctors, 1041 individuals were supported to access various hospital services. An online consultation for the COVID patients with the support of three doctors has already been initiated. 200 PPE kits were provided to the frontline workers and NGO volunteers and 2000 people were provided with Masks. Sanitization materials were distributed to 750 people.
BOSCO Delhi has already received from South Korean embassy 450000 masks and they are being distributed to people. Funeral assistance of Rs 7000 each were given to 11 families who have lost their family member due to COVID. 303 individuals were counselled though online counselling programme with a team of psychologists and trained counsellors, which is one of the growing requirements in Delhi. 17 most vulnerable families among migrant construction workers were provided with ration, and utensils.
Online creative learning support was provided to 1300 children of various slums and migrant communities. 29 digital learning programme sessions were conducted with 586 participants. Along with the local government authorities BOSCO Delhi has provided cycle rickshaws to 5 families who opted to sell vegetables and fruits in the villages on them as means of survival during this lock down. So far, these families are able to manage their living and so, 15 more families will be given support to buy cycle rickshaws. BOSCO Delhi is in the process of procuring oxygen concentrators and beds for five charity hospitals in Delhi with the support of various donors. These hospitals in turn will offer their free service to the needy.
Fr. Babu Varghese SDB