Hope: the foundation of wonders!

In the days full of low spirits and dwindling possibility of well-being, can one really be hopeful for tomorrow? Can life be called life without a home and food? Hundreds of people would struggle with these survival basics at the Yamuna silt, situated right on the outskirts of the national capital Delhi. Somewhere in the Yamuna silt, Ramu’s family would survive on 5 small pieces of roti for 2 days. Not very far a mother of 6 months-old could not feed her new born, as she has nothing to eat. In such a situation where the basic means of survival, the food, is missing from living, the proper supply of water and electricity seems like a faraway dream. 

The families of fish and vegetable sellers are living such aching days on the other side of the Yamuna on an island. People have to walk till Okhla, which is 5 kilometres away, everyday for getting drinking water. Children of these labourers go to school in a boat. Where life was already so much struggle, the total lockdown brought more hardships to them. When Prant Sangathan Mantri Shukdevji reached the place along with his fellow brothers and sisters, a few tearful eyes caught their attention. The empty kitchens and weak bodies of the people of Yamuna silt were enough to express their suffering. The Sewa bharati volunteers carried food, medicines, drinking water, sanitary pads, and clothes with them, but more than that, they carried hope that was long lost for these families. 

People looked at the swayamsevaks with gratitude, whereas the swayamsevaks were annoyed with themselves about the fact of not lending a helpful hand to these families earlier. At last, the hungry families found that hope is coming to stay with them in the form of Sewabharati volunteers. 

Soon enough, 5-6 sewing machines were shipped to the silt. Sewa bharati prant karyalay mantri Anju didi and Upasana didi themselves taught the women from the labourers’ families to sew masks. Independence and employment soon touched their homes and strengthened hope for the future. The hardships are still there, but with the devotees of sewa, the families from this Yamuna silt are looking forward to uplift their lives with self dependence. 

And this is not it! Wonder happened when the beggars outside Jhandewalan temple, filled colours into the eco-friendly sculptures of Ganesh, and in the process earning Rs. 200/- to 300/- per day. 57 women who once survived lives from begging are now decorating karvachauth thalis to become self-reliant. The hands which only rose to beg are today rising proudly for accepting payoffs of hard work. Sewabharati Delhi prant prachar pramukh reports that about 12,500 swayamsevaks and Sewabharati volunteers together reached with raw food to around 1,91,000 families. Also, around 91,000 families were provided with ready food packets. About 986 women struggled with the basic food during lockdown at the JB road, a red light area in Delhi. The volunteers reached to these helpless women stuck in prostitution to deliver food. When the swayamsevaks addressed them as mothers or sisters, they could not help but to cry. 

The Kinnar community that resides in the area of Mayur Vihar colony since a long time, offered respect and good wishes to the swayamsevaks. They thanked as well as blessed the swayamsevaks for bringing them food. 

Refugees from Pakistan, who in spite of being Hindus do not possess Indian citizenship, are camped in the Bihad jungles near the coast of Yamuna. When the sisters of Sewabharati matrumandal reached there with ration kits, they observed that 25-30 pregnant women are not getting any treatment as the OPDs are shut down. When even the emergency services were not routinely running, it was impossible to get nutrients. Hence, the sisters of Sewabharati particularly packed nutritious laddoos, dry fruits, daliya, peanuts, and milk powder for the pregnant ladies. Now the Sewabharati team, along with doctors visit these women and consult them from time to time. 

The works swyamsevaks are doing are countless in terms of both numbers and emotions. An organization with strong foundation always carries ignition, inspiration, and courage to stand even in the worst conditions. Swayamsevaks are marching forward with the wish to do more and more good for the society during the challenging pandemic times. But what they are carrying with them is the basis of all the wonders. Hope!