St Joseph’s Indian Institutions-Bengaluru reaches out to the Stranded Migrants in Bengaluru City during Lockdown
Bengaluru: Upholding the Jesuit Value of selfless service to the needy; the Jesuits of St Joseph’s Indian Institutions, Bengaluru through the Centre for Social Concern, under the august mentorship of Rector, Fr Leo Pereira, and Institutional Heads of various units of SJII, Fr Henry Saldhana, Fr Rohan D’Almeida, Fr Cyril Menezes, Fr Deepak, Nirma D’ Souza and the members of Inigo Sadan Community have reached out to the migrant workers, the poor and the needy in and around the locality, all through this period of unprecedented lockdown announced by the government due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fr Leo Pereira speaking about the humanitarian works said that during this lockdown the most affected people are migrants and the poor. In this regard we want to focus our services to the poor migrants who are struck in Bangalore City. He also said that this reporting is not for the publicity but to create an awareness in the people how we can reach out to the suffering masses.
We have provided shelter to 120 migrant construction workers since the lockdown has been announced. Food pack and groceries are being distributed to approx. 250 plus stranded construction workers from North India. The families of the students of St Joseph’s Indian High School, who are economically weak have been taken care of by providing them with sufficient ration and groceries. Parents of St Joseph’s School CBSE have been given tips to mentally cope up and deal with this lockdown period.
An online counseling service for the parents and students is provided by the staff members of St Joseph’s School CBSE which enables the parent/student to call and share their concerns pertaining to the lockdown. The most neglected and abused category of the society, the transgender community housed at JD Mara Slum, Vinayakanagar were given the necessary provisions and supplies to help them sustain this critical period. Close to 200 numbers of lunch packs are regularly distributed to the migrants & the needy in the vicinity.
Help has been extended to the Pourakarmika’s of BBMP by providing ration to sustain this hour of crisis. Masks are distributed to the construction workers to help they stay protected from this infection. We have been providing the moral support to the Police officials who are tirelessly working in managing the public movement on the roads during this quarantine period by providing them snacks & tea as at regular intervals. We have extended our help to IJAM-International Justice and Mercy; Home for the homeless and destitute, Kammanahalli by providing provisions.
Provisions were supplied through the help of the Institution to the people hailing from Leprosy Colony, Muneshwara layout, Chikkanayakanahalli, Sarjapur Main Road. To boost the morale & keep the spirits high of the students, their parents and the staff members of St Joseph’s Indian Institutions during this lockdown period of various thoughtful competitions which they could participate from home are being organized. 100 migrant workers were reached out by the Institution around Chandapur and bagalur industrial area.
One of the beneficiaries Mr Jalandar from Manvi said that you came in the form of Gods in the time of hunger and distress. We did not have food to eat. These provisions will help us to eat for few days. Ramana from Bagalur industrial area says that our contractor has gone away from here and we are left without any money and provisions. He said that the provisions that he received is a great blessing in disguise. Fr Rohan, The Director of social concern said that this write up is not for the publicity but for the people can come forward to help the poor migrants who are stranded in the city area without any help.
