Many industrial workers stranded in Balharshah industrial city in Maharashtra are living on food provided by the Loksamgraha Social Service Society (LSSS) with the support of Caritas India. After the national lock-down declared by the Union Government of India from 25th March, these workers lost their work and struggling for their subsistence.

Initially, Chandrapur district was in the green zone but due to the emergence of few suspected cases, the district was put under the orange zone. The entire building of these migrant labourers was quarantined by the Municipality officials. The Municipality officials invited different NGOs working in the region to support and provide food for the quarantined workers. 

Ramesh Sharma, 32, from Madhya Pradesh was a salesperson in the textile shop used to earn Rs. 3000 to support his family in the village. “I was quarantined for having symptoms of cough and cold with a history of close contact with some suspected cases. During my quarantine days, Loksamgraha Social Service Society provided well-cooked breakfast and ensured proper hygiene.”

Municipal officials approached LSSS to provide breakfast to the migrant communities daily. LSSS is a charitable no- profit-based social service center and partner of Caritas India functional in Chandrapur District. Committed to the overall development of the poor, the less privileged, and the marginalized people, LSSS took the responsibility to cater to 1504 migrant workers in the area with proper breakfast.

The organisation came forward as Samaritan for the industrial worker and stared providing breakfast every day. “Breakfast usually involves tea and one dish like upma-chana curry, poha-chana curry, Roti bhaji, puri bhaji or Idly-sambar-chutney. The Staff members of Loksamagraha Social Service Society, especially those in the Railway Childline project, have taken the initiatives for the cooking and distribution of food to the migrants quarantined”, informed LSSS staff. 

Ankush Korade, 25, from Madhya Pradesh used to work in a paper mill at Ballarpur before the lock-down. “I remained unemployed once the lock-down started and the question of survival started haunting me. I couldn’t even return back to my native place due to a lack of transportation facilities. My life was in total despair. I was quarantined as I had close contact with a few migrant labourers who were suspected of COVID-19. Loksamgraha Social Service Society provided breakfast in the Quarantine Home and helped me and many other migrant workers”, shared Ankush.

The organisation is supporting the industrial workers since April 29 and continuing this gesture and call of good Samaritan.