Reaching out to the migrants across Mumbai through the Circle of Love and Care
It has been 2 months since India has been under lock down due to the corona virus, posing a daunting challenge for a large number of front liners, migrant workers, daily wagers, and animals to survive it. Inspired by its founder Pujya Gurudev shri Rakeshbhai , Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC) has been extensively carrying out 360-degree initiatives to support and protect all these affected communities, through its volunteer network of thousands in over 50 cities globally.
Under the ‘Circle of Love and Care’ , volunteers across all ages have teamed up to provide fresh and nutritious theplas daily to migrant labourers
Of these cities, Mumbai which is currently one of the major hot spots of the outbreak in India, is now seeing an enormous movement of migrant populations since the government issued transport guidelines for stranded workers. On witnessing the heart-aching conditions of thousands of migrants wearily waiting in queues spanning kilo metres at various railway and bus stations, and traveling interstate in trucks, and on trailers, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care’s volunteer network across Mumbai immediately stepped up to prepare and deliver nutritious food packets to these migrant groups in transit. On 17th May, over 25,000 theplas (flatbreads) were prepared in less than 5 hours and distributed among the groups of migrants queued up at multiple areas in the city.
Distribution of fresh Theplas, water bottles, juice boxes and biscuits to migrants returning home at CST Station by the volunteers of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care
Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care’s initiative namely ‘Circle of Love and Care’ further amassed more support from Mumbaikars across the city,and in just 5 days, they successfully distributed3lacfresh home-cooked Theplas, along with fruit drinks, buttermilk, biscuit packets and waterto migrants across Mumbai maintaining social distancing and sanitary norms. To emotionally support these migrants, Mumbaikars also began writing heartening messages on each packet. Owing to their systematic co-ordination, volunteers have reached out to all railway and bus stations, major interstate check points, toll nakas and transit areas including CSMT,Worli, Sion, Kurla, Borivali, Dahisar, Thane, Kalyan, Bhayandar, etc.
Under the ‘Circle of Love and Care’ initiative, even the youth of Mumbai has joined in to provide fresh and nutritious theplas daily to migrant labourers
On witnessing the extensive and instant relief being provided; BMC officials, local police stations, government personnel and Tehsildars often approach Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care for immediate support. For instance, recently, a trailer with over 70 famished migrant workers and children headed to West Bengal, was identified at Dahisar Checkpoint.When informed by the police personnel, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care volunteers hurried to the site with food packets within just 2 hours.
Volunteers of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care distribute fresh, homemade Theplas to the migrant workers returning home under the ‘Circle of Love and Care’ initiative
One night, BMC officials sought the support of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care to feed over 1500 starved migrants at CST Station.Volunteers immediately made an interim arrangement of biscuit packets for two hours, until the BMC kitchen prepared cooked meals. Railway officers have also been updating the SRLC co-ordinators about scheduled and delayed trains in order to help support timely provision of home cooked food to the migrants waiting for trains.
Heartening messages on each food packet written for the migrant workers returning home by the volunteers of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care under the ‘Circle of Love and Care’ initiative
“It is the collective passion and commitment of every volunteer that makes our initiatives possible in such a short turnaround time. Our founder and spiritual mentor,PujyaGurudevshriRakeshbhai tells us that there are 3 ingredients to service: the sincere intent to serve, the power of community spirit and divine help. And the Circle of Love and Care is undoubtedly driven by these factors.”- AtmarpitNemiji, Trustee– Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care.
Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care’s initiative ‘Circle of Love and Care’ has thus become a strong bridge between the Mumbaikars and migrant workers, uniting scores of city-dwellers in a common spirit of selfless service.
For more details please contact Alpa Gandhi – +91 83694 67223/ Miloni Gandhi- +91 9920304047
