Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jun 15: The pandemic has hit hard every section of the society which has led to job loss and decline in economy. Many families are in dire straits due to the Covid-induced lockdown.

Many organisations in and around Mangaluru have shown kind gesture towards people and families who are in need by distributing ration kits and food on a daily basis during the lockdown.

One can notice scores of destitute loitering on the streets of Mangaluru namely State Bank, Nehru Maidan, railway stations, and KSRTC bus stand as it has been a struggle for them for daily food. As many of them are seen around, the prime focus for organisations was to distribute food on humanity basis. Many such organisations have come forward to serve the hungry destitute.

Donating food for 48 days was not an easy task. It was team work where members worked day and night to deliver food to the needy on a daily basis. Organisations prepare nearly 250 to 500 food parcels every day. But sadly it is noticed that some of the destitute take the food parcel and throw it without consuming as they seem to do not like what is offered to them.

Many organisations, youth groups and NGOs give food parcels at places like State Bank and Nehru Maidan. It has been a daily routine for them for the last one month of lockdown. Organisations give food like rice and dal, and some give congee and chutney. The destitute take the rice and dal. Meanwhile, if they receive any other variety from other organisations, they dispose the rice and dal and take the other option.

Due to lockdown, many are their homes without employment and income and struggling to get one square meal. On the other hand, destitute get enough food from the kind gestured organisations which is going waste. State Bank bus stand and its surroundings are filled with food packets and dispose food.

Speaking to daijiworld, Suhan Alva from Team Cause said, “We have been distributing food for the last 48 days at State Bank and Bunder. During this lockdown, many organisations, youth groups and NGOs have come forward to feed the hungry. It is good to see people coming forward to give food to the needy in these testing times. Sadly, the destitute are very selective at times. If they are given rice and dal, they dispose it off if someone offers them biriyani. We have bought this to the notice to the district administration. Places were allocated to the NGOs and organisations to distribute food. Team Cause was given parts of State Bank and Bunder, but still many others come and give food in that region. It is disheartening to see food going waste. We have now stopped giving food in the State Bank region as many come
there and give food. Hence, we give food to lorry drivers near KPT.”

Corrine Rasquinha from the White Doves said, “Since several years, we have been distributing food in a systematic manner to the destitute. During the last lockdown, we gave nearly 75,000 food parcel. That went on systematically and no food wastage was reported. But this time, there is no system in giving food which is leading to wastage. Destitute are wasting food as they get multiple options. We are feeding the hungry since 27 years and the destitute know the system of White Doves. I stopped giving food from May 8 as I noticed many other organisations doing the good work. Once other organisations stops giving food, I will start giving food once again which I have been doing since the last 27 years. This I to avoid waste of food. Among the destitute who take food, 99% are known faces to me as I have been feeding them since years.”

Hanumanth Kamath from Sevanjali Charitable Trust said, “We avoid giving food at places where others groups distribute food before us. I have seen the destitute collect food packets on behalf of everyone and later dispose them after picking their choice.”

Youth Congress leader Suhail Kandak said, “When we started giving food, the situation was not so severe. Today, many organisations have come forward to give food for destitute. If I give pulao, then if someone else gives biryani, they dispose the pulao. On a daily basis, 6,000 food packets are distributed. But the question is, are there 6,000 destitute in Mangaluru? If everyone coordinates while distributing food, we can avoid such issues.”