At a time when the Covid pandemic has overwhelmed hospitals with patients, their attendants too are confronted with various obstacles.

JCI Ranchi, a city based social outfit run and managed by the trading community, has come forward to distribute free food packets at the capital’s Sadar Hospital from Sunday.

On the first day, 200 food packets were distributed. The organisation aims to distribute 100 more packets from Monday to meet the growing demand.

The packets are getting distributed during lunch time but the outfit has plans to start this service for dinner as well.

Abhishek Modi, an official of JCI Ranchi said that while several others are trying on their own to help people through different initiatives as part of social mobilization in the current times of pandemic, they chose to do aan-daan (feed people).

“While patients admitted to the Covid wards will be taken care by the Sadar hospital management, their attendants were facing concerns of food. Those who could afford will order or eat somewhere, but Sadar hospital is the place where poor and downtrodden across the state mostly turn up for medical treatment. Hence, we thought of starting free food service for the attendants after getting nod from district administration,” he said.

He however said that the food packets will be given to anyone who feels hungry and turns up at their kiosks daily. “Although, it is mainly for attendants but we will be giving to anyone who is hungry. Technically, assessing if someone is an attendant or not, will be impossible,” he said, adding that the packets are prepared in most hygienic conditions.

“In each packet, we are serving rice, two rotis, veg curry, dal, salad, pickle and dahi. The menu will remain constant except the vegetable that will keep changing daily. For about 300 packets, we have an estimated per day cost of Rs 20,000 per day and are currently managing through contributions from our members. We are open to any kind of contributions if anyone wishes to do so to sustain this initiative,” he said.

“Till 2pm, markets are partially opened currently but there is a problem during night time as it is complete lockdown. Those who come here from other districts find it difficult to manage food in case of need. We are working out modalities to start this service during night time as well,” he said.

“We are thankful to JCI and others who are doing philanthropic work across different sectors in times of pandemic to help people at large. Only through collective efforts, we can tackle the pandemic,” said deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan.