Hyderabad: Good Samaritans distribute food at hospitals, to homeless

• Attendants of patients from far off places were most affected as all eateries were shut

• Food was served free of cost to destitute and homeless who were dependent on charity for food

Charminar: In order to provide comfort and succour to homeless and those depending on charity during Janta Curfew, some Good Samaritans distributed food to the needy people. Also, food was distributed to attendants of the patients at several government hospitals.

Taking all precautionary measures such as wearing masks, gloves and using hand sanitisers, the team led by Mohammed Ishrath Ali, chairman of Telangana Human Rights Protection and Development Forum, who conducts this charity work every Sunday, found that people at the Government hospitals were shocked by the situation, as all the private eateries were shut.

When they reached the Modern Government Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj, the attendants hastened towards the team serving food. "This was our 252nd free food distribution programme at the hospitals, but for the first time we found such a situation, as those from far off places solely depended on eateries, tiffin centres and street food were caught off-guard and had no choice.

By the time we arrived they sighed a relief and rushed to get meals," said Ishrath Ali. Further, he said that the attendants of women at maternity hospital. who came from neighbouring villages and districts, found themselves helpless when they went for breakfast and saw all eateries were shut. "Fortunately we had the privilege to satiate their cravings. We were able to serve 300 people for breakfast, which include patients and their attendants," he said.

Meanwhile another social activist, Md Asif Hussain Sohail, a resident of Tolichowki, served the needy during the afternoon hours. Under the title 'Dayar-e-Khidmat', the activist put up a banner of serving free food between 2 and 3 pm for the needy. "We serve lunch every day of the year between 2 and 3 pm," the banner said. Sensing the condition of the homeless due to Janta Curfew, another social activist, Iqbal, distributed 100 food packets to homeless, as all the hotels and shops were closed.

On the other hand, B V Seshagiri, Socio-Political Activist, in a petition appealed to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi that in India there were many people living on the roads, footpaths and huts and a vast majority of people 'Below the Poverty Line' the destitute, beggars and many more daily wage labourers, were not in a position to earn their daily bread, in fact all the poor and marginalised need the government's support during this current Coronavirus pandemic crisis.

"Please provide them food, clothes, soaps, medical support and accommodate to them in schools, till we overcome the threat and epidemic from the country. God forbid if there is a medical emergency and total lock-down similar to many nations in Europe, this will ensure that every member of the community is safeguarded and we can fight this outbreak successfully," he hoped.