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

Salem centre distributed 2320 kg flour, 2360 kg suji (semolina), 4950 kg pulses, 525 kg sattu (gram flour), 580 kg fried grams, 1060 litres cooking oil, 1160 kg salt, 480 kg assorted spices, 263 kg tea leaves, 1340 packets of sweetmeats, 3920 packets of biscuits, 2300 bars of bathing soap, 1150 bars of detergent soap, 1150 bars of dish soap and 2320 face masks among 1160 families in Salem district from 25 August to 21 September.

Hyderabad centre distributed 121 kg seviyan (vermicelli), 119 kg suji,1077 kg pulses, 42 kg other groceries, 898 litres cooking oil, 478 kg assorted spices, 100 kg assorted fruits, 361 kg sugar, 121 kg tea leaves, 240 packets of detergent powder and 120 packets of Ayurvedic powder (for boosting immunity) among 346 families in Hyderabad from 1 July to 31 August.

Asansol centre distributed 1130 kg flour, 226 kg pulses, 205 kg soya chunks, 226 packets of health drink, 226 kg detergent powder, 452 face masks and 452 bars of soap among 226 families in Paschim Bardhaman district from 15 to 22 September.

Darjeeling centre distributed 420 kg rice, 42 kg flour, 42 kg pulses, 21 kg soya chunks, 21 kg chira (rice flakes), 21 kg sattu, 42 kg salt, 42 packets of turmeric powder, 42 litres cooking oil, 42 packets of biscuits, 21 kg sugar, 40 packets of sanitary napkin and 42 bars of soap among 42 families in Darjeeling district from 24 August to 11 September.

Gadadhar Ashrama, Kolkata, served 5760 plates of cooked food to afflicted people in Kolkata from 1 to 24 August.

Jalpaiguri centre distributed 600 packets of sweetmeats, 381 packets of biscuits, 182 saris, 375 mosquito-nets, 300 tarpaulins, 651 bars of soap, 336 bars of detergent soap and 1228 face masks among 614 families in Jalpaiguri district on 26 August and 3 September. The centre also conducted two free medical camps in Jalpaiguri district on 21 August and 3 September and provided free medicines, biscuits, and a bar of soap and a bar of detergent soap each to 315 patients.

Malda centre distributed 1116 kg rice, 558 kg flour, 223 kg pulses, 112 litres cooking oil, 558 bars of soap, 558 face masks and 301 saris among 558 families in Malda district from 22 to 29 September.

Bagerhat centre distributed 260 kg rice, 52 kg pulses, 52 kg potatoes, 26
litres cooking oil and 53 kg salt among 52 families in Bagerhat district on 26 September.

Durban centre, along with its sub-centres, distributed 866 kg rice, 433 kg pulses, 433 kg sugar beans, 433 kg maize meal, 217 kg macaroni, 43 kg assorted spices, 433 kg salt, 325 litres cooking oil, 433 litres milk, 433 kg sugar, 433 packets of tea bags, 433 bottles of jam, 433 packets of soup, etc among 433 families in September. The centre also donated 100 hampers, each containing 25 kg cereals, 100 kg sugar beans and 25 kg pasta to a paediatrics department of a local hospital in Durban.

Phoenix centre distributed 1900 kg rice, 240 kg maize meal, 105 kg fortified cereals, 1200 kg pulses, 800 kg potatoes, 800 kg onions, 100 kg squashes, 46 kg noodles, 95 kg assorted spices, 250 kg salt, 600 litres cooking oil, 400 cans of tinned food, 35 kg soup powder, 25,000 tea bags, 250 kg sugar, 340 litres milk, 35 kg milk powder, 195 kg biscuits, 400 matchboxes, 450 bars of soap, 300 adult napkins and 4473 breakfast cereal packets in September. The centre also distributed a litre of milk and a loaf of bread to 15 families thrice a week as well as 10 sets of kitchen utensils and 20 blankets among 10 families. Further, the centre’s clinic sponsored 36 dialysis sessions for three patients and provided counselling service to healthcare professionals and workers.

Lusaka centre distributed 600 kg powdered maize, 60 kg sugar, 30 litres cooking oil, 30 kg salt, 60 packets of washing powder and 60 bars of soap among 60 families in Lusaka in September.

Manasadwip centre distributed 66 asbestos sheets, 15 tin sheets, 35 bamboo poles, 30 feet matka (ridge covers), 8700 bricks, 980 cft red sand, 210 cft white sand, 960 cft stone chips, 210 bags of cement, 346 iron rods, 25 kg binding wire from 23 August to 22 September among afflicted families in South 24 Parganas district to help them repair and renovate their houses that had been damaged by Cyclone Amphan. In all, the centre will provide this help to repair and renovate 215 houses; so far the work on 182 houses has been completed.

Taki centre helped 13 families in North 24 Parganas district to repair and renovate their houses that had been damaged by Cyclone Amphan. It distributed 67 cement pillars, 177 asbestos sheets, 172 bamboo poles and other construction materials among the families from 26 June to 20 September.

To extend a helping hand to poor and needy people, our Gadadha Ashrama, Vrindaban and Lusaka centres distributed 106 saris, 500 kg rice, 500 kg flour, 125 kg pulses, 125 kg cooking oil, 250 kg salt, 50 kg turmeric powder, 125 kg sugar, 25 kg tea, 50 kg milk powder and 250 bars of soap and 100 kg powdered maize among the poor and needy people.