Mumbai, November 30, 2020, Rise Against Hunger India (RAHI), a hunger relief organisation that distributes food and life-changing aid to the most vulnerable, and Road Ashram, came together to distribute meals to children and their parents in Dharavi, Mumbai, through Drona Foundation. The distribution was done keeping in mind the necessary COVID-19 protocols.
Road Ashram, a three-member team comprising of Siddhartha Dutta, Ahmer Siddiqui and Neha Chaturvedi, is travelling along the borders of India in a modified car, covering nearly 25,000 km across 30 States and union territories. The aim of the drive is to raise awareness of people facing difficulties because of the pandemic and to raise funds for the same. Drona Foundation, an NGO which has been helping 300 children In Dharavi through education, health, life skills, e-learning and community empowerment, is supported by Rise Against Hunger India on a regular basis.
The coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown that followed crippled the lives and livelihoods of the people living in Dharavi. Most of the slum dwellers are migrants and the lockdown cost them their jobs and robbed them of basic needs like food and education to their children.
On November 28, the 56th day of their journey, Road Ashram reached Mumbai and met with the Rise Against Hunger India team at Dharavi. RAHI meal packets were distributed to about 50 people which included 30 children and 20 senior citizens from the communities. The meal packets consist of rice, dal, dehydrated vegetables and a micro-nutrient sachet that contains 23 minerals and vitamins. The Road Ashram team interacted with the people to understand the struggles they went through during the initial two months of lockdown and how they were helped by RAHI with meals.
Speaking on the occasion, Dola Mohapatra, Executive Director, Rise Against Hunger India said, “We have served over 1.5 crore meals since March to migrant workers, daily wagers, construction workers and others vulnerable groups who faced great hardships during the lockdowns. We are thankful to the Road Ashram team for their efforts towards our cause and for helping us reach out to more people in need.”
“We are on a mission to raise the awareness and resources to help people facing difficulties due to the pandemic. We are appealing to people to make a contribution to the cause and all funds will be directed to RAHI towards their work to provide food support to people in need,” shares Neha Chaturvedi, team member of Road Ashram.
