The COVID 19 pandemic has left the world in huge disarray and crisis. Countries across the globe are rapidly evolving measures to tackle this crisis. Indian Government has been one of the first to announce and enforce a total countrywide 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, making it the world’s largest lockdown. The current crisis faced by the world is affecting all sectors of the society, whereas like any other disaster the most affected is the underprivileged section of the society. While the lockdown affecting the migrant workers in huge numbers, it has also shown its cruel effects on people living with disabilities living in small pockets of our country.

Delhi, the National capital has always been home to many migrants from different parts of the country and contains people staying in small clusters which we commonly call the urban slums. According to the census of 2011, the northwest district of Delhi is home to 36.6lakhs human lives. The sub-divisional districts of North West Delhi namely, Kirari, Karala Chowk is among the densely populated areas within this district. Delhi Government has been consistently trying to fight this pandemic through different means and methodologies. Being a highly populated city, the government has reached out to all civil societies to amplify their interventions in protecting the underprivileged in their respective states.

Caritas India has been working for the upliftment of the poor and the marginalized for several decades which has contextualized its way of work as relevant to the changing development scenario. Caritas has constantly changed from a Charity based development organization to a People led development in its journey of bringing change in the communities. Involving people for the change that needs to be achieved is vital for several reasons. By developing a theory of change based on good theory, people can be better assured that their initiatives are delivering the right activities for the desired outcomes. As a result of the change in approach, the strategic intervention of Dialogue and Volunteering was adapted to reach out to the need which arose in the Northwest District of Delhi.

Caritas India along with its implementing diocesan partner Prachodana Social Service Society initiated the dialogue and collaborated with the Delhi government to reach out to the needs of the vulnerable population of Kirari slum and Karala Chowk area. The need for supply of dry ration in four hostels for the visually impaired reached the local Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kanjawala district. The hostels are situated in the heart of these areas which have been catering the needs of more than 100 visually impaired children and young adults. These hostels were run on the supply of monthly ration which was now scarcely available since the announcement of the lockdown. Lack of financial resources was also one of the reasons leading to scarcity of raw materials.

Caritas India supported the government intervention to supply dry ration to these hostels through our local diocesan partner. Food kits comprising of Rice, Wheat Flour, Pulses, Sugar, Cooking Oil, Tea Powder and white gram were distributed to the each of the hostels. His Excellency Most Rev Jacob Barnabas, Bishop of Diocese of Gurgaon led the intervention with the local director Fr Matthew. The local church situated in the nearby area contributed by volunteering themselves to conduct the distribution. The parish priest, nuns and local parishioners volunteered themselves to conduct the distribution. Necessary safety precautions were undertaken while engaging the volunteers on the field. The volunteers showed the true spirit of volunteerism by working relentlessly and with a pure intent of reaching out to the needy. Fr Mathew shared his experience of the need assessment visit he had conducted in the selected areas. He shared the pathetic conditions of the hostel and highlighted about the high need of food items. The distribution was held for two consecutive days, in which food items weighing almost 390kgs were distributed among these four hostels.

Through the timely support and intervention of Caritas India over 100 mouths were fed for the next 15-20 days.