The lockdown in Nepal continues to put millions of lives on the edge. Stories of daily wage earners crept across news platforms and collectively resulted in social media outrage. Unfortunately, two months later the lockdown has affected not only daily wage earners but many families, students and people across all socioeconomic background. Fortunately, there are many groups, small NGO’s and friends/communities coming together to feed those who are not able to afford a meal at this moment. Today, I’d like to start by sharing about the #HamroSanoPrayas initiative.
This group of creatives, teachers and activists came together in mid-April after feeling a deep desire to do something. The team consists of filmmaker Min Bahadur Bam, activist Deepak Raj Sapkota, Prajwal Dahal from Ageno, pilot Vijay Lama, actor Namrataa Shrestha, actor Karma, Kantipur journalist Ghanashyam Khadka, activist/lecturer Pukar Bam, Upendra Jung Shahi, Victor Paudel (Routine of Nepal Banda), filmmaker Rajesh Prasad Khatri, Dipak Hitan and activist/team Sabeen Karmacharya and many more.
Consisting of people from all different professions, skills and network and they’ve been utilising their strengths to provide food and rations for over 300 people each day across Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The team have been operating from Ageno Restaurant in Sanepa and their support has reached many including 100 people who were walking home (paidal-yatri) to Dhulikhel, Jagati and Dolakha (via Bhakundebesi), over 100 people living in the areas of Lalitpur (5, 6, 12, 15 and 19) without shelter have been supported and many patients and carers at Manmohan Cardiac Center.
The group are open to contribution and they request supporters for food donations so it’s easier for them to collect and distribute. They have supported many including students, families living on very little and charities that are struggling to provide food for people in their care/shelters such as Blue Diamond Society and Annas Home (a residential facility for the elderly).
You can view all their activities till date by downloading the PDF document below.
The lockdown in Nepal has been extended till June 2. Every day there is a growing number of positive coronavirus cases and there have been two deaths. It is SO important now – more than ever – to do what we can to reduce these numbers from increasing. If you show the signs and symptoms of Covid19, stay home, monitor yourself (SELF-ISOLATE) and if it gets worse then please go to the hospital. Please stay at home even if you are well as we have no idea how this virus will affect different people.