by BISMumbai Correspondent

The Don Bosco Development Society (DBDS) Mumbai, the MumbaiSalesians' Province Planning and Development Office [PDO] in association with its implementing partners in Vadodara [Gujarat], Pune, Jawahar and Mokhada [Palghar District] continues to reachout to the most impoverished poor, amidst COVID-19 Unlock 1.0, with financial assistance from its funding partners - Mix-for-Kids Germany, AXA Business Services, and Manos Unidas Spain.

In Vadodara, DBDS successfully completed Phase 02 of the relief work for stranded migrant labourers and slum dwellers, endeavouring to reach out specifically to families of adolescent girls and young women. A total of 3,500 people were helped during the month of May, as part of relief outreach. Father George Miranda, Director-Snehalaya at Vishwamitri, Vadodara along with Jagruti Patel DBDS Vadodara Coordinator oversaw the outreach with a team of dedicated staff.

In Pune, DBDS continues to reach out to 3,000 poor and needy, as part of Phase 02 outreach, in the slums of Pune, Pimpri and Chinchwad. The relief kits were distributed to migrant labourers put up in a special migrant camp set-up specifically for the purpose of their habitation. Father Richard D’Silva, Administrator Don Bosco Youth Centre [DBYC] at Koregaon Road is personally overseeing and coordinating the outreach with dedicated youth volunteers in collaboration with the local police personnel.

In the tribal-populated hilly terrains and forested areas of Jawahar and Mokhada Blocks in Palghar District, DBDS through its implementing partner Bosco Samajik Vikas Sanstha (BSVS), is reaching out to 2500 tribal people. Relief kits containing ration for a month, toiletries and hygiene kits are systematically distributed to the most marginalised. Father Anaclete D’Mello, Director BSVS and former MumbaiSalesians' Provincial Economer is coordinating this relief outreach with dedicated social outreach staff and local volunteers travelling from village to village to ensure door-delivery of the kits.

Even as the 1st day of Lockdown 5.0 in tandem with Unlock 1.0 is being chaotically experienced by a confused populace across the country, with 8,392 new infections and 230 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, with the total number of cases in the country [as per the data of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-MoHFW], now at 1,90,535 [including 93322 active cases, 91819 cured/discharged/migrated and 5394 deaths, DBDS Executive Director Father D'Mello says, "we are committed to the COVID-19 relief cause with our donor-funding and implementing partners reaching the most impoverished unreached. DBDS is happy that it can help those who need help the most."