“Best food for the whole day is the breakfast. Only in the morning, we get nutritious food. We are very satisfied with it, which is supplied by Jan Vikas Kendra”

These words of gratitude and joy shared by Deepak Kumar Mehta from a quarantine centre in Barhi in Jharkhand gives a glimpse at the initiatives been done by one of the partners of Caritas India, Jan Vikas Kendra. It is a diocesan partner in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. The partner has been tirelessly working towards bringing relief to as many people as possible in the current pandemic situation.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 has affected millions of people in the country. The rapid growth of infection and casualties in India had forced the nation to declare complete lockdown to curtail the spread of the virus. As broadcasted wildly in the media, the worst affected group has been the migrants. The plight of migrant workers walking thousands of kilometres to their homes carrying their children on the shoulders and their meagre possession on their back, braving heat and hunger, will haunt the good souls for years to come. The State Government has taken its efforts to reach out to the thousands of stranded migrants and helped them in returning to their native house within the state.

However, as a precautionary step, these migrants were sent to different quarantine centres. The migrants had to stay in these centres for two weeks before they could meet their loved ones back home. As the district officials were seeking support in whichever way possible, Jan Vikas Kendra extended its help in providing cooked food to two quarantine centres run by the government in Hazaribagh district. Currently, there are 290 migrants quarantined in both centres combined. JVK started providing breakfast for 290 quarantined migrants once a day on a daily basis. The food is prepared at the JVK centre with the support of staff and volunteers (Priests, Nuns & Lay Volunteers).

One of the volunteers, Ms Ruchi Kujur, said; “I am very happy in helping to prepare the food for the people who are in quarantine centre.  I am grateful to Jan Vikas Kendra for this selfless service they render for these people”.  Adding to this, Mr Anup Rajesh Lakra said; “At this Pandemic period, I am very happy that the youth, are able to contribute and serve our country by doing voluntary help in preparing nutrient-rich food for the people living in the quarantine.  In my view, Jan Vikas Kendra is giving the best humanitarian service for the people who are in need as per the need of the time”.

Fr. Tomy A. J, the Director of JVK, also tried to put his feelings in words, “We are very happy that the district administration has been given this opportunity to us for serving people. We are extremely grateful to all the volunteers involved in cooking, packing and distributing.  They all come early in the morning, around 5 am, and work without any complaints till the food is prepared and packed. They all give their wholehearted service. This is an opportunity to enhance the volunteering spirit in us and build a caring and sharing community.”