Due to the second wave of Covid-19 innumerable people have been affected by the deadly Coronavirus in Bolpur (Birbhum) and its surrounding villages. Ramakrishna Math, Bolpur has promptly engaged itself in the service to these affected masses.
A brief report of the ongoing Relief Service for Covid from 15 May 2021 to 18 June 2021 by the Bolpur ashrama:
- Community Kitchen for the Covid Patients: The Bolpur centre started a community kitchen named “Sarada Pakshala”, to provide nutritious cooked food to the Covid patients and their family members living in home isolation. The cooked food packets were home-delivered twice daily with the help of a group of volunteers and well-wishers in and around Bolpur-Shantiniketan. As of 19 June 2021, the centre has provided 4100 food packets at the door steps of the COVID affected families. The cooked food packets distributed contained Rice, Bolied Vegetables, Fry, Dal, Sabji, Fish & Curd for Lunch & Rice, Fry, Dal, Sabji, Egg & Sweet for Dinner.
- Providing Oxygen Cylinder to needy patients: As in many places in and outside the State, Bolpur too was confronted with an acute shortage of Oxygen cylinders. The Bolpur centre strove to mitigate the lack of Oxygen cylinders in its locality. On the basis of requirements, Oxygen cylinders along with flowmeters were delivered to the patients in need quarantined at home, as much as possible. An Oxygen Bank with 14 cylinders was set up for the aforementioned purpose.
- Ambulance Service: Availability of Ambulance for Corona patients had become an acute problem in this region and at the request of the local administration, the Bolpur centre procured an Ambulance. On 15 May 2021, the centre organized a modest programme maintaining Covid protocol to hand over an Ambulance (For 2 months) along with 4 Oxygen Cylinders to Bolpur Municipality to be used for needy Covid patients in the surrounding areas. Hon’ble Minister Shri Chandranath Sinha; Smt. Parna Ghosh, Chairperson of Bolpur Municiaplity; Sri Bikash Roy Choudhuri, Chairman, Birbhum Zilla Parishad and other dignitaries were present on this modest occasion.
- Distribution of Masks & Sanitisers: About 500 masks & 2000 sanitiser sachets were distributed by the centre among the villagers in Kopai. A local ration shop was chosen as the point of distribution.
- Safe Home for the volunteers: Ramakrishna Math, Bolpur has arranged for a modest safe home to accommodate the volunteers taking part in this entire seva programme, in case they be affected by the Coronavirus, they can stay isolated. Though, by the grace of the Holy Mother, it has not been required till date.
