Following the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the imposition of lockdown in India, millions of people were pushed to the brink of hunger and starvation.  The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission started relief work almost from the beginning of the crisis, bringing succour to the afflicted people

Thiruvalla centre distributed 70 kg flour, 70 kg pulses, 35 kg cooking oil, 14 kg assorted spices, 35 kg sugar and 9 kg tea leaves among 35 families in Thiruvalla from 13 to 15 October.

Darjeeling centre distributed 1720 kg rice, 172 kg flour, 89 kg chira (rice flakes), 64 kg sattu (gram flour), 193 kg pulses, 89 kg soya chunks, 172 kg salt, 9 kg turmeric powder, 172 litres cooking oil, 172 packets of biscuits, 89 kg sugar and 172 bars of soap among 185 families in Darjeeling district from 8 to 24 November.

Sarisha centre distributed 7106 plates of cooked food, 320 saris and 169 sets of children’s garments from 19 to 23 October.

Bagerhat centre distributed 300 kg rice, 60 kg pulses, 60 kg potatoes, 30 litres cooking oil and 60 kg salt among 60 families in Bagerhat district on 28 November.

Fiji centre served 8400 meals to students from September to November.

Durban centre, along with its sub-centres, served cooked meals to 1100 people and distributed 2144 kg rice, 1072 kg pulses, 7504 kg potatoes, 5360 kg onions, 1072 kg sugar beans, 1072 kg maize meal, 536 kg rava (semolina), 536 kg macaroni, 536 kg vermicelli, 107 kg assorted spices, 1072 kg salt, 2144 litres cooking oil, 1072 litres milk, 1072 kg sugar, 1072 packets of tea bags, 1072 bottles of jam, packets of soup powder, bars of bathing soap, laundry soap, tubes of toothpaste, etc among 1072 families in November.

Phoenix centre distributed 6730 kg rice, 300 kg flour, 650 kg maize meal, 720 kg fortified cereals, 200 kg rava, 4060 kg pulses, 10,942 kg assorted vegetables, 380 kg noodles,  260 kg assorted spices, 1170 kg salt, 2721 litres cooking oil, 1180 cans of tinned food, 105 kg soup powder, 68,500 tea bags, 1520 kg sugar, 870 litres milk, 350 kg milk powder, 90 kg biscuits, 10,150 breakfast cereal packets, 400 tins of jam, 120 litres fruit juice concentrate, 480 cakes, 276 packets of snacks, 120 packets of cooked meals, 72 sweet preparation packets, 1400 matchboxes, 600 tubes of toothpaste, 1840 bars of soap, 600  adult napkins, 100 face masks, 280 litres household cleaner, 200 sponges, 200 assorted garments and 20 pairs of shoes in November.  The centre also distributed a litre of milk and a loaf of bread each to 11 families thrice a week.  Further, the centre’s clinic sponsored 22 dialysis sessions for two patients and provided counselling service to healthcare professionals and workers.

Lusaka centre distributed 600 kg powdered maize, 45 litres cooking oil, 60 kg salt, 120 kg sugar, 60 packets of washing powder and 60 bars of soap among 60 families in Lusaka in November.

Tamil Nadu: In response to Cyclone Nivar that hit the coastal areas of the state on 25 November, the following centres conducted relief work:

Chengalpattu centre accommodated 40 persons in a local school in Chengalpattu district from 24 to 27 November and provided food, biscuits, water and milk to them and also arranged medical help.

Chennai Students’ Home centre distributed 184 kits (each kit containing 1 kg rice, 1 kg rava, 1 kg flour, 1 kg vermicelli, 3 kg pulses, 1 kg fried gram, 1 litre edible oil, 1 kg salt, 400 gram assorted spices, 2 kg sugar, 1 bar of soap, 1 bar of detergent, 1 tube of toothpaste and 1 toothbrush) among affected families in Chengalpattu district on 29 November.

India: Arunachal Pradesh: A house was burnt down in a fire accident in Aalo on 3 October.  Aalo centre distributed 1 handi, 1 bucket, 2 mugs, 7 bowls, 1 sauce pan, 1 kadai, 2 ladels, 7 plates, 7 jackets, 7 shirts, 7 trousers,  6 belts, 7 blankets, 15 notebooks, 9 pens, 9 pencils, 6 sharpeners and 6 erasers to the affected family on 3 October.

Bangladesh: In a fire accident at the municipal market of Gendaria, Dhaka, 14 families lost all their belongings.  Dhaka centre distributed 38 blankets, 16 dhotis, 14 saris, 70 kg rice, 14 kg pulses, 42 kg potatoes, 14 kg salt and 7 litres cooking oil to them on 27 November.

Phoenix centre gave a wheelchair each to two needy patients in November.

This year, 32,250 blankets and 3604 winter garments are being distributed among the poor and needy people, through 73 of our branch centres in different parts of the country till date.

Indore | Naora

To extend a helping hand to poor and needy people, 9 of our centres distributed 752 dhotis, 5326 saris, 93 lungis, 3090 shirts, 180 sets of ladies’ garments, 128 sets of children’s garments, 188 towels, 540 kg rice, 440 kg flour, 110 kg pulses, 110 kg cooking oil, 220 kg salt,  110 kg sugar, 22 kg tea, 44 kg milk powder, 220 bottles of hair oil, 596 bars of soap, 188 bar of detergent soap, 188 tubes of toothpaste, 188 toothbrush, 188 bottles of coconut oil, 188 packets of glucose, 40 kg sweets, 100 kg powdered maize etc. among the poor and needy people.