NGOs come forward to help northeastern workers stuck in the city

Bengaluru: Various not-for-profit organisations are coming forward to help students, working professionals and others from the northeast who are stuck in the city due to the pandemic and consequent lockdown.

Bengaluru is the abode of lakhs of people from northeastern states including Manipur, Assam and Mizoram.  Most of those people are employed in restaurants, saloons, the hospitality industry and residential complexes. Some are struggling for life, while the others have had theirs disrupted by the lockdown.

Many are facing harassment from house owners for not paying rent. Northeastern restaurants in the city are also shut due to the pandemic.

But many NGOs are stepping up to provide help to those who are seeking hospital admission, plasma, oxygen, ambulances and food. For instance, The Manipuri Meitei Association, Bengaluru (MMAB) has formed a Covid support team to provide assistance to infected individuals. They approach BBMP and arrange ambulances, hospital beds and other medical services.

Major (retd) Rajkumar Jhaljit Singh, president of MMAB said, “We are expanding the team and seeking more volunteers to cover the entire city. We have identified a list of hospitals, home medical services and quarantine hotels. The support team will also be in touch with affected families on a regular basis.”

He said that they are organising fundraising campaigns to help those who have been hospitalised. He said, “Many people who are admitted in hospitals do not have insurance.”

Angkham Moyon, a member of Manipuri Diaspora Bangalore (MDB) said that they have formed a Covid 2nd wave warrior team to provide help and support to people from Manipur who are residing in Bengaluru. He said, “Members of our team provide assistance like consultations with doctors, hospital beds, ICU, oxygen and ambulance services. We also get calls from others in Bengaluru. We are trying to help as many people as we can.”

“Many northeast people, especially those working in hotels and retail shops have been laid off or faced salary cuts due to the lockdown”, said Vezokho Resu, president of Northeast Welfare Association, Karnataka.

He said, “Cases are increasing in Bengaluru and if the government extends the lockdown, we will provide them food kits and other assistance. Many Covid-infected people struggle with the language and are also struggling to find beds in hospitals.”

“We are ready to provide financial help to underprivileged people from the northeast but we are not in a position to provide material help such as oxygen, plasma etc due to lack of resources”, said Col. Christopher Rego, founder and CEO of Sunbird Trust, an NGO working in Manipur.