Help pours in for 300 labourers from Jharkhand left without food in Meerut

MEERUT: Two days after TOI reported about 300 labourers from Jharkhand facing starvation-like situation in Islamabad colony, a minority-populated area in Meerut, district administration and some politicians have started taking note of their suffering. And help is coming their way now.
These labourers were facing severe food shortages with their ration stock running out and no money left.They were dependent on the food being provided by the district administration – which, too, used to come only once a day, with the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown. But now, they will receive two meals per day. Some politicians have pitched in with ration as well.
On Sunday, Abul Hasan, a 45-year-old labourer staying here, said, “The administration has increased the frequency of meals from one to two, and many people have come forward to help us. A politician also came with enough ration for the next few days, and we received calls from locals to pitch in. However, since we have enough ration now, we have told others that we will contact them whenever we are short of food again.”
TOI had earlier reported how the needy were shunned by the local police and asked to return home because of the lockdown when they tried to go to the nearest community kitchen.
Meerut district magistrate Anil Dhingra said, “Once we came to know of the difficulties faced by locals, the area's magistrate increased the frequency of meals from one to two. This will help them during the lockdown.”
Badar Mahmood, a Delhi-based lawyer and national legal convenor of Yuva Rashtriya Lok Dal, said, “I got 50 kg of rice, 50 kg flour and 10 litres of oil for the people here. I will also deliver 50 kg of potatoes. I have asked all the financially well-off people in the area to support the cause.”
Another local, Ashish Chaudhary, who tried to assist the labourers, said, “The people there said that they have enough ration for now and if required I have asked them to contact me immediately.”