Amid COVID19 pandemic, many local NGOs are extending help to vulnerable sections of society which includes specially-abled persons.
Abdul Rashid Bhat, President, J&K HandicappedAssociation said they have stepped up efforts to help the specially-abledpersons to tackle the challenges posed by the situation.
“Many charitable organizations and NGOs have started helpingout people in distress due to COVID19, however we should equally focus onpeople who are specially-abled and lack support system. They are the mostneedful in these difficult times,” he said.
“Till date we have helped 40 specially-abled families withone month ration including and other necessities. We also reached out to manywidows and distributed masks, sanitizers and hand gloves among them,” he said.
Taking in view the current situation, J&K Handicappedassociation has written to Principal Secretary (Planning) Rohit Kansal forextending help in delivering services to vulnerable groups.
“He assured that he would take the appeal forward with thedistrict administration. However, it has been 25 days since and we haven’theard anything from them,” said Abdul Rashid.
Another organization, Save the Destitute Foundation, hasbeen extending help to contract labourers, street vendors and constructionworkers.
Zaheer Jan, chairperson of the Foundation said, “We aim tohelp the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in our society including theelderly people.”
“We have distributed complete one month Ramadhan relief kitsand grocery to 50 families. People who are blind, or suffer from paraplegia,polio and other health conditions, we have made them priority in terms ofhelp,” he said.
“We have also catered to women hygiene initiatives andextended help to many outside labourers through volunteers and officials fromthe office of deputy commissioner Srinagar,” he said.
To meet the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic,youngsters like Mudasir Shaban who holds an MBA degree has been acting as avolunteer with different organizations to help people in distress.
“In this moment of crisis, I decided to find some purpose tomy life and joined as a volunteer for Save the Destitute, J&K HandicappedAssociation and other organisations to help people overcome unprecedenteddifficulties. I request people to become active donors and help the people indistress,” he said.