Sal leaf, worshipped by many tribes in Jharkhand, was waved on Saturday to flag off a relief project for vulnerable families that have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus-induced lockdown.

State labour minister Satyanand Bhokta launched the project from Ursuline Convent School on Dr Camil Bulcke Path and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure help to the needy.

Former tribal advisory council member Ratan Tirkey, who co-ordinated the programme, explained the significance of the sal leaf. “Sal leaf is considered auspicious for the tribals in the state. It is associated with nature. We used it to formally inaugurate the rollout of the relief project to ensure a quick return to normalcy,” Tirkey said.

Tirkey said the project had been undertaken by Phia Foundation in association with Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives and the district administration.

“Essential items will be distributed among 10,000 families who neither have ration cards nor any support system. The relief package includes flour, milk powder, sanitary napkins, dal, soap and oil,” he said.

Tirkey said Phia Foundation had earlier provided personal protective equipment worth Rs 1.5 crore to the state government.

Asked about the men behind the project, Trikey said: “The state head of Phia Foundation Johnson Topno is taking care of the project. Ursuline sisters and Jesuit priests are helping him.”

Labour minister Bhokta said the state government would not let the poor suffer.

“We are so committed to helping the poor that we are using all means of transport to bring back the migrant labourers. We are planning to improve the agricultural scenario in the state to ensure that they never think about going out of the state in future.”