While India unlocks, we see a pandemic, a whole lot of uncertainty, unimaginable crises, hunger, many acts of kindness and the strong resolve of a hopeful nation.
Food is the most basic necessity for human survival. Pre-COVID statistics show that about 690 million people across the world go to bed hungry every day. Latest reports suggest that about 148 million more might go hungry in 2020. As David Beastly of the World Food Program said, the world is “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” that could lead to “multiple famines of biblical proportions”.
India, being the second most populated country in the world, has about 91% of the population employed in the informal sector, with 22% of the population in poverty. The consequent lockdowns had a scarring impact on the vulnerable sections of society. In India, 190.7 million people are undernourished and 25% of children experience hunger. COVID lockdowns shot these numbers through the roof as the lockdowns paused economic activity and ceased the sources of income of the vulnerable communities, creating a desperate need for food among the low-income groups.
Local, State and Central Governments made efforts to address the problem effectively, with several relief and welfare activities for the food security of the poor. In Anantapur District, one of the most backward districts of Andhra Pradesh, government officials were implementing various relief program. The number of people who needed help was so high, the district administration needed more hands to feed the hungry citizens, who didn’t have enough resources to sustain themselves throughout the lockdown.
The Anantapur district administration was reaching out to various NGOs to join them in providing relief to the affected. Anantapur Sports Academy, a sport for development initiative based out of Anantapur, partnered with Rural Development Trust (RDT) and joined forces with the government. Back at the academy, staff started to come back, few hopped on their two-wheelers, many walked long distances as there was no public transport. Empty dining halls soon filled with tens of coaches, ground staff, and support staff of ASA.
ASA staff worked day in, day out, not on the playing fields, but in the kitchens, cooking, packing and distributing quality food at the same time following social distancing and taking safety precautions. A team of 70 odd people worked in the morning and evening to provide lunch and dinner to the needy. Started with 400 packets a day, soon the numbers doubled and tripled – such was the need for food. Food was distributed in the low-income areas, slums, residents in red zones, sanitation workers, health workers, on-duty police, and migrant labourers passing through the district to reach their homes.
“It’s an experience of our lifetime, however a challenging one,” says Yugandhar Reddy, Cricket Co-ordinator at ASA, who also led the team for food distribution. “To pack 4000+ packets of food per day for lunch and dinner and distribute them during lockdown is a tough job.” He adds.
As ASA continued the efforts to feed the poor, people who wanted to help came on board. “Few donated in cash, many in kind. Merchants, businessmen, employed professionals, even police came forward and donated towards the cause in their personal capacities. Local farmers donated their produce.” Says Vishala Ferrer, Director of Hospitality, RDT. This itself is a great testament of humanity, and how COVID has brought out the best in people.
This phenomenon of kindness was witnessed across the country, people fed those who did not have food. Individuals cooked food and shared with the less fortunate around them, and the migrant labourers in exodus. Entrepreneurs like K. Kamalathal fondly known as Idli amma sold food at a nominal price bearing losses while feeding the hungry.
Till today, ASA and RDT distributed about 400,000+ food packets, and continue to do so in COVID hospitals. You can also join the fight against hunger during COVID through an act of kindness by donating towards the cause here.