Covid Relief for a Fishing Village in India
Today’s mail will be a follow up mail from my friend Dibyendu and histrip back to a Fishing Village about 6 weeks ago in the Bay of Bengal…..
Below is his mail sent to me June 22nd, regarding his trip and our donation of masks:
We had to defer our relief program by a day due to heavy rain.
We did our program on Sunday & Monday at 2 places in an island in the Bay of Bengal which suffered very heavy loss of properties in the cyclone ‘Yaas’ which struck Bengal coast on 25th May. The particular island which is home of three hundred thousand people, homes of about thirty thousand have been washed away. We distributed 300 sarees (Ethnic wear of Bengali ladies), rice and pulses.
We got the right opportunity to distribute the left over masks sent by you at these places.
4 weeks after the debacle, people are still in tents and dependent on NGOs and government relief for food and other necessities.
Thanks,
Dibyendu
Below is a New Mail from Dibyendu … Current Mail for you to read about how it is right now in Kolkata
We are ok. You do not see India in the news because the curse of Covid has substantially reduced. Now a days new infection in the city of Kolkata is below 100 per day which at one time crossed 3000.
All educational institutions are still closed, among public transport only Uber and yellow cabs are operating. No train, bus or metro are operating.
Shops and establishments are partially open and operating with reduced manpower and reduced hours.
There is a threat of a third wave of infections in 2/3 months. It appears that we still do not know fully about Covid, I have seen multiple cases where the most cautious persons are being affected. The infection is really like waves, going up and down at its own will.
Indian government is spending enormously in vaccination and funding idle departments like railways for more than a year. The money is being pooled by increasing prices of petroleum products which is resulting in price increase of all daily necessities of common people. All over situation is difficult for the majority.
Everything else is moving as usual in a restricted way. Sumaiya is continuing with her online classes from my place on Mondays and Wednesdays and on Fridays from the house of one of our neighbors, a kind lady now retired who was a school teacher.
Hoping to see better days ahead.
Thanks.
