What began as a tiny idea to raise funds for 150 to 200 daily wage earner families through close friends and well-wishers snowballed in a few hours and there was a full blown project in front of us.
We were overwhelmed with the support from Mumbai Donors but also the Execution was a mammoth task.We began with our own DBM team at our skill centers and local communities and then with the help of kind likeminded people we moved inch by inch, day by day answering requests for food as people had not eaten for two days, some of them even crying on the phone.
Every call was one of despair but their voice had a hope too ..
“””.Humne kisse ne bola apkey sanstha madad kartey hai “”””
The lockout was another big challenge .The vendor who had promised us bags of grains cancelled suddenly as his help ran away to the village.
We personally began by locating food grain shops through just dial, talking to them ,then sending each one of the beneficiaries to that shop. Again we had to identify a shop that took a bank transfer.
Many strangers as Volunteers joined this journey, many kirana shopkeepers too acted as Volunteers and DBM moved from Govandi to Trombay, Cheetacamp, Rafiq Nagar, Ghatkopar, Vikroli, Malad, Dahisar, Vithalwadi,, Jogeshwari, Kandivli, Bandra, Dadar, Parel, Aarey Colony, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Nalasopara, Walkeshwer, Malabar hill, Napean Sea Road, Byculla, Masjid Bunder, Tardeo, Nanachowk and colaba.
With our own eyes we saw people who hold Mumbai in their hands …Artisans, Construction workers, Painters, Craftsmen, Flower sellers, Taxi and Rickshaw drivers ,Bhelwalas, Chaiwalas all bound by only one thought ….I have no food, my family is Hungry.
This was the closest and most enriching experience to see every human being come forward and say “We want to help”
A big thank you to all our Donors, to all our supporters who promoted DBM COVID 19 as a personal cause, to all our friends and well-wishers because without u 3500 families would have been just a number.
With love and regards
The Team of Dharma Bharathi Mission
U made this happen Mumbai
