by Father Ajit Munis for BISMumbai

The Mumbai Salesians at Don Bosco Narukot managed the COVID-19 outreach on 29-30 April reaching out to 200 individuals in 55 families of 09 villages. This outreach in Jambughoda Tehsil of Panchmahal District in Central Gujarat, was carried out after extensive survey-analysis of the most deprived suffering.

The outreach distributed food-provision [pulses, condiments, grain, oil, salt, biscuits], toiletries and masks. Prior to distribution of the relief kits, a general COVID-19 info-awareness session was organised, and the recipients' signatures were registered. The families were cautioned to utilise the relief kits for their household use, instead of trying to sell them off. On 29 April, 03 villages, Zalariya, Kesarpura and Kewa were covered. On 30 April, the outreach happened in06 villages, Chalvad, Pohili, Ghandra, Nizran, Ranjitpura, and Zarva.

This act of service to the most deprived was appreciated by the families, who expressed gratitude for the sensitive concern expressed by the Salesians. Salesian Coadjutor Bro. Melvyn Carvalho, Father Ajay Shelke, and social outreach coordinator Ashwin Barla undertook the initial survey-assessment. The relief distribution was a Salesian educative-pastoral community collaboration with Father Jerome Aruldass, boarding incharge Smit Macwan and Father Ajit Munis-Rector and Principal