Rising above religion and extending help for Covid relief
LUCKNOW: Gurudwaras in the city have turned saviours for people in need during the pandemic. They are reaching out to Covid patients and their kin by organizing ‘oxygen langar’, providing ration kits, hearse vans and ambulances to people with help from other communities.
The Alambagh Gurudwara has received several oxygen cylinders as ‘zakat’ from Muslim brethren during Eid and also got some ration kits, hearse vans and oxygen cylinders from the Hindus.
So far, more than 800 cylinders and 4,000 ration kits have been donated to the needy by the gurudwaras here. They are also maintaining records of cylinder distribution.
“The pandemic has brought all the communities closer. Muslims have donated oxygen cylinders to us during Eid. While the Loha Vyapar Mandal has donated several cylinders, the Lucknow Jewellers’ Association has donated ration kits. Sandeep Singh Anant has donated a hearse bus to the gurudwara,” said Nirmal Singh, president of Alambagh Gurudwara.
He said, “The Muslim brethren approached us as they wanted to donate oxygen cylinders as ‘zakat’. Several organisations also donated generously to the gurudwara for arranging oxygen cylinders for poor patients.”
“With help pouring in from all communities, the ‘oxygen langar’ will start in Unnao Gurudwara on Tuesday and will also begin soon in Ayodhya and Sitapur this week,” he said.
To avail the benefits, residents will have to give an application to the gurudwara along with the prescription of the doctor treating the patient, Covid report, Aadhaar card of patient and attendant, pathology report of patient on the WhatsApp numbers 9554822225 and 9670888333.
Along with medical oxygen, Alambagh Gurudwara has also made arrangements for home delivery of food for Covid infected people.
Nirmal Singh said, “We have prepared kits of 10 kg wheat flour, 4 kg rice, 2 kg dal, 2 kg ghee, 1 kg oil, spices of 4 kinds and salt packet of 1 kg. We deliver kits to the needy, but they have to provide details like aadhaar card, ration card, so that we can keep record of beneficiaries.”
He said so far more than 800 cylinders and 1,500 ration kits had been distributed. “We will continue to provide oxygen for Covid patients till things normalize,” added Singh.
District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash appreciated the ‘oxygen langar’ organised by Gurudwara Alambagh during his visit to the gurudwara on Wednesday, where he inspected work of oxygen cylinder distribution and addressed devotees.
Singh thanked the DM for his support in refilling of oxygen cylinders. He said: “Without his support, oxygen seva on such a large scale would not have been possible.”