Guwahati: The 21-day lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic has rendered hundreds of destitute people and scavengers vulnerable to food scarcity. In view of this emergency, a Guwahati-based NGO, Development Concern Intl (DCI), under its “humanitarian support programme”, has undertaken a crowdsourced food support initiative to distribute pre-packed food among vulnerable people in several pockets of the city with permission and assistance of the Assam Police department.
“A lockdown of any kind has the capacity to push destitute people and those in need of food support into oblivion. These people lack in shelter, basic amenities and social security schemes. Nutrition being an all-time requirement is most affected during such lockdowns,” said Afreed Islam, humanitarian support officer of Development Concern Intl, in a press release.
Since April 5, some 115 destitute and hunger-stricken people were provided with vegetarian food packets and PET water bottles and their hands sanitised in Guwahati. Areas covered during the humanitarian support programme on April 5 and 6 were Hatigaon, Jatiya, Dispur, Ganeshguri, Christian Basti, GS Road, Bhangagarh, Ulubari, Rehabari, Sarabhati, Sluice Gate, Fatasil Ambari, Kachari Basti, Guwahati Railway Station, Pan Bazar, Lakhtokia, Bharalumukh, Chabi Pool, Shantipur, Bhootnath, Maligaon, Pandu and Paltan Bazar, among others.
