by BISMumbaiCorrespondent

DBDS [Don Bosco Development Society], the Mumbai Salesians' PDO [Province Planning and Development Office] had initiated a COVID-19 relief outreach, thanks to its funding partners, facilitating provision of essential food, hygiene and toiletries to 10,000 individuals from impoverished underprivileged backgrounds in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. In the cities of Vadodara and Pune too, relief outreach is underway, thanks to financial aid from Mix-for-Kids Germany and Manos Unidas Spain.

The initial beneficiaries in Mumbai were from the areas of Antop Hill, Maheshwari Udyaan, Wadala and Matunga. Others in Ghatkopar, Kurla, Saki Naka, Chirag Nagar, Jai Santoshi Mata Nagar, Home Guard Colony and Aslafa have also been provided with provisions this week. Likewise DBDS has distributed relief aid to 150 stranded migrant labourers in CBD Belapur. From informal and unorganised sectors, the beneficiaries are mainly migrant daily wage labourers, street vendors, drivers, housemaids, construction site labourers, porters, foodcart vendors, destitute, and the like. This outreach in Mumbai city and in Navi Mumbai has been possible thanks to financial assistance from the Mahanagar Gas Ltd. under the MGL Disha Project.

Likewise, in Vadodara, 1500 individuals, especially the needy poorest children residing in slums will benefit from this relief aid generously sponsored by Mix-for-Kids Germany. Father George Miranda Director-Snehalaya, is coordinating this relief work assisted by Jagruti Patel and other volunteers. Similarly, in Pune, Father Richard D' Silva alongwith a team of volunteers, is coordinating relief outreach financed by Manos Unidas, Spain. to 1500 poor and needy residing in the slum zones.

Father Rolvin D’Mello Executive Director DBDS says, “The primary beneficiaries of this relief work are widows, senior citizens without family / children, migrant labourers, physically incapacitated, and homeless destitute. All the norms and directives as required by the civic administration are beign strictly complied with in this process. This a a very difficult task, given the lockdown situation. My sincere thanks to Mahanagar Gas Ltd., Mix-for-Kids Germany and Manos Unidas Spain for their large-hearted and timely financial assistance."

Please Note: DBDS COVID-19 Relief Outreach reports can be accessed here http://www.dbdsmumbai.org/news-blog