Volunteers distribute food packets to sanitary workers

CHENNAI: Volunteers have started distributing food packets with two meals per person to sanitary workers in the city. The workers start their day as early as 6 am and often starve till the end of their shift and they can go back home.

Many people are financially struggling due to the lockdown, said Sivakumar ND, an advocate who volunteers to distribute food packets to sanitary workers. “Sanitary workers and Corporation volunteers start their day at 6 am. They won’t have time to prepare breakfast and lunch or cannot afford to buy meals every day. To help them, we are distributing two meals, along with health drinks and masks,” he said.

The volunteers distribute more than 1,000 food packets daily across the city and sometimes, even the police force help them to hand out the food. “We are getting good response from sanitary workers. Many said they used to starve till the evening and drink only water as they don’t have enough money to buy food. We even help COVID patients in home quarantine by distributing food and medicines,” said Vignesh, another volunteer.

These volunteers also help COVID patients waiting outside hospitals for oxygen beds by giving temporary oxygen support. “We have private vans with oxygen cylinders. When patient’s oxygen level goes down, they are given oxygen support till they get beds at the hospital. Since the need for oxygen has reduced in Chennai in the past few days, we are operating with only two cylinders,” said Sivakumar.