Charity begins at home

The Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown were surprising for us like others and there was no preparation to deal with the situation. The curfew imposed by the government to prevent the spread of virus threw life out of gear. Everyone was worried about the poor.

My family members and I sat together and we decided to start charity from home. My mother and I withdrew Rs10 lakh from our bank accounts and gave to the Red Cross. It was the need of the hour, as PM’s Relief Fund was for the country, CM’s Fund for the state, but there was no specific fund for the city.

Others, including MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, contributed to the Red Cross fund and the administration used it judiciously to buy sanitisers, masks and food packets.

Later, we started a community kitchen, which fed 70,000 persons daily. All 16 councillors in my constituency and more than 800 volunteers provided cooked food to the needy daily. Our workers and friends contributed from their pockets.

Meanwhile, the government issued ration kits and we distributed it by rising above party lines. After two Covid-19 positive deaths in the area, the government declared some localities as containment zones. With the help of Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu and DC, we conducted screening in the area. Fortunately, no further infection was found.

A number of NGOs supported us. Overall, it was a tough time, but an opportunity to learn several new things. Everyone did self-realisation during this phase. People started thinking about sanitation and environmental issues. Most of us are now more conscious about our diet and health. People are returning to traditional home-made food, which strengthens immunity. We must follow health authorities’ guidelines.

(As told to Charanjit Singh Teja)