The national lockdown is to protect citizens from the deadly COVID 19 spread, and it has been accepted by the people across the country. However, the lockdown has its impacts especially on the poor sections of the society. Inaccessibility to markets and no income has led to an acute shortage of food materials in the poor households. People looked seemingly helpless when it came to feed their families.

Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, was not exception to the lockdown. Fortunate people kept themselves within their homes in the city and were living a normal life with meals to eat three times a day. However, Fr George Jarain Lyngdoh along with the district administration came to know about the shortage of food materials in the villages near Nongstoin. According to his information, people were struggling hard for food as there were no supplies reaching them and neither were the markets open due to the lockdown. “These families were almost starving, and we had to do something about it”, said Fr George Jarain.

Nongstoin Social Service Society (NSSS), in coordination with the district administration, swung into action and figured out the most deserving families that needed the support in consultation with the Sardars (Village Headmen) and volunteers. NSSS, led by Fr George, reached out to 28 families with dry ration support. These families were supported with Rice, potatoes, salt and pulses as immediate support.

Of the 28 poor families, the condition of one family was found to be the worst – family of Konshos Rmen. He lives in Nonbah Block C, a village near Nongstoin, with one son and five daughters along with his wife.

The youngest are twin daughters ageing only three. The age group for the rest varies from five to eleven years. He earns a mere Rs 3,500 (per month) from driving auto van and his wife earns 3,000 (per month) as a domestic worker. Lockdown came heavily on this family as their earnings were all exhausted and they had no savings. The family only had a few kilos of rice left with them that was going to be exhausted soon. The parents decided to survive on minimum meals while giving away most of the food to their children.

When NSSS confronted Konshos and wife, they wore a pale face while narrating their ordeal with the scarcity of food. “I have no income now, as the police does not allow any vehicle to ply on the road.  My wife also cannot go to her work.  I don’t know how much more we will be able to hold it up for.  Moreover, we have to pay house rent of Rs. 1000/-. From where we would get it …we have no idea”, said Konshos

A sigh of relief and joy could be seen on their faces when they were told about the relief distribution. It seemed like coming back from the jaws of starvation. The relief given to them would last for the whole family sufficiently for at least eleven days.

NSSS is already working with the government awareness program and distribution of masks and food kits involving around 40 volunteers. The effort is on in identifying more needy families and reaching out to them with food support, on a continuous basis.