Samata Sainik Dal going all out to help needy
| Date :16-May-2020 |
Sunil Sariputta (right) Volunteers of Samata Sainik Dal providing food to needy people at Kukde Layout, Rameshwari Road.
By Ajay Ramteke :
FOUNDED by Dr B R Ambedkar, Samata Sainik Dal, which is always at the forefront for uplift of poor and downtrodden people, has lent its helping hand to take care of the needy suffering due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since the lockdown announced on March 23, SSD was aware of the task at hand while taking care of scores of daily-wagers, construction workers, maids, migrant workers, elderly and specially-abled needy people left in the lurch.
Marshal Sunil Sariputta, National Organiser of SSD under the guidance of Advocate Vimalsurya Chimankar, patron and National Advisor of the organisation chalked out a strategy with fellow cadets to help people in dire need of food and other essential commodities. Initially they distributed foodgrains, grocery kits to the residents near the SSD Centre at Kukde Layout, Rameshwari road. But soon they realised that some kits were going in wrong hands. “As advised by SSD Women’s Regiment headed by Kanchan Wasnik, we decided to run a community kitchen. At the beginning, we provided food to 300 to 400 people in the morning and evening. Now, after 45 days, number of people being provided food has reached nearly 1500 to 2000 needy daily. The community kitchen is run according to the guidelines issued by the Government and adhering to social distancing norms,” Sariputta said.
The SSD, since March 24, has provided food to nearly 1,95,000 people through its community kitchen. They have also distributed 72,595 kgs of foodgrain kits and have extended Rs 59,600 as financial aid to the needy to buy essential commodities. SSD also donated 3,600 face masks, 3,500 hand gloves and over 90 litres of sanitiser. Medicines are also being provided to those who cannot purchase them due to the lockdown. “Such initiatives solely depend on the donations. In the time of crisis many employees associations, housing societies, local residents, traders and fruit vendors extended their helping hand through donations.
We also collected foodgrains and money from nearby locality to reach out to more people,” he said. Several top government officials including Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nilesh Bharne visited SSD’s community kitchen and promised all possible assistance. “SSD is helping thousands of people in various parts of Maharashtra and nine other States. Our cadets are also providing food packets and financial aid to migrant labourers on National Highways so that they can reach home safely,” Sariputta added.