The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 and the impact it had on the Indian population was alarming and shocking, it almost had altered the lifestyle.  The middle class somehow had the capacity and capability of changing their life situations but for the people below poverty line, migrant workers, construction workers, coolies, daily wage workers, slum dwellers, single parents, widows, elderly and the children it was a nightmare that shattered all their dreams.  More than the COVID-19, it was the sudden lockdown for 21 days that brought the people at Lingarajapuram to a standstill, not knowing what to eat, what to drink, how to stay indoors when all the family members were living in one or two rooms at the most, could not follow social distancing.  

Above all was the scorching summer heat that was troubling the most.  There was scarcity of everything Mask, Sanitizers, food, dry ration and it was at this juncture that the Don Bosco Church, with the help of Stakeholders and magnanimous people started providing bread, bun, biscuits and snacks to the children and the vulnerable-for which I am really grateful to Britindia.  Later as things were taking shape, we were able to get connected with ATRIA International for providing food packets which was too meager and later on through Dream Networking India, we were able to get 500 packets of cooked food, as the lockdown was creating havoc in the lives of people lower income, Radissun Atria came to our Aid by supplying 500 packets of cooked food in the morning and 500 packets in the evening.  In total we were able to cater to 1500 people every day, the church had 55 people under their share and care project who were given one meal a day throughout the year were given dry ration for 15 days with the help of Dream Network India.  The Archbishop’s house team helped me in this venture by providing me with 200 packets of dry ration which was mostly given to all the migrants working in the vicinity of Lingarajapuram.  This also supported more than 50 families who were differently Abled (Spinal Cord Injury Patients), Physically Handicapped, Blind, hearing impaired etc.  We also helped those physically handicapped running old age home in Bidadi and Blind hostel at Konankunte (Banashankari).  We were also able to help a hostel run by sisters for children of single parents at Karianapalya.

For sustenance after the Lockdown the Don Bosco Church decided to provide dry ration for 15days so to cope up with the aftermath of lockdown, with the help of BREADS (Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society) the Provincial Developmental Office of the Province and also with the help of Contributions from generous benefactors the Parish has undertaken to provide dry ration for 400 families and also broken rice to 500 families of the Parish.   I the Parish Priest of Don Bosco Lingarajapuram take this opportunity to thank all the stakeholders for joining your hands in tackling this situation and Crisis with much Ease.  Thanks to all that has been, and yes to all that will be in the future.

Fr. Aloysius Santiago Sdb

Rector and Parish Priest

Don Bosco Church, Lingarajapuram

Bangalore