December 12, 2020, was the 262nd and last day of the non-stop daily feeding of people in the Tengra and Sealdah station area of Kolkata. The people there were severely affected by the first lockdown. This initiative of the Salesian Provincial House community in Kolkata was spearheaded by Father Joseph Aymanathil the first Salesian to die of Covid 19 in Salesian India. The sudden and unexpected lockdown and its continuation for months brought about untold sufferings to the most vulnerable sections of the society—daily wage earners, scavengers, slum dwellers, beggars.
When hunger struck the people hit by the lockdown, we decided to provide cooked food daily to the starving people in the slums nearby and the footpaths around Sealdah Railway station. We could feed around 1500 people daily during the first six months. Once the lockdown was partially lifted, this number came down to around 300. A group of dedicated volunteers braving the virus daily saw to the preparation and distribution of food, an incredible feat indeed and display of their grit and perseverance. Food was transported to various locations by van rickshaws. The distribution was done strictly adhering to Covid 19 protocol. For almost all the beneficiaries, it was the only meal of the day for months. Life had come to almost a standstill for so many.
Fr Mathew George SDB
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