When business turned into charity

use, albeit without any monetary benefit.

Gaur reached out to his friends who worked as social activists in the city, and through them, he got in touch with non-governmental organisations, and took their help to distribute Moo Day milk packets and biscuits, free of cost, to the hungry.

“Eventually through word of mouth, more people learnt about what we were doing and contacted us for help. We started distributing milk pouches daily in different areas across Dehradun,” said Gaur.

In their own plant, they said, they made arrangements for their 11 workers and employees to stay at the farm.

Those who visited the markets frequently -- to take orders of day-to-day milk requirement from retail shops or departmental stores -- were either asked to work provided safety kits, Sharma said.

Neha Joshi, a social activist who has been involved in helping locals and stranded migrants during the lockdown said, “We used to distribute food amongst people initially and then we got in touch with Nitin and Sukriti. With their efforts we were able to distribute more items. Small gestures like this, giving milk packets, biscuits and bread at times, helped a lot of people in ways we cannot even imagine.”

“There were different kinds of restrictions and limitations that we had during the lockdown, but we were able to work it out. Coming across that old lady on that road, we realised that it is not always about profit and that we had to help people in whatever manner we could. We are glad that we were a part of essential services through which we were able to help those in need,” Gaur said.

Since June 6, Uttarakhand has imposed lockdown in Dehradun on weekends, so Sharma and Gaur have restricted distributing the milk packets on weekdays only. Their main clients – restaurants and hotels – remain shut.