Food not a casualty amid lockdown
By Nivedita Pal
If there’s anything that’s of casualty in Colaba during the lockdown, it surely isn’t food. Following PM Narendra Modi’s call for a national lockdown to contain COVID-19, all of Colaba pooled in their collective might to ensure nobody went hungry. Not the isolated rich, not the homeless poor!
So, political groups ranging from Shiv Sena, INC and the BJP – shedding personal bias - spilled over onto the streets of Mumbai with food packages – sometimes fried rice, sometimes pav bhaji – ready to be handed out to all and sundry. And, the homeless couldn’t have been happier. After all, during mealtimes, the Colabakar had ensured nobody would go hungry.
Why, putting their own lives at risk, most Samaritans hit to the streets like never before. The one thing that remained of concern here was the mandatory social distancing wasn’t being maintained. Not at least in the beginning of the lockdown period when everyone in need seemed desperate to grab a meal or two before, as widely feared, things closed for good.
Now, ten days down the line, the variables have changed and the demand too has been streamlined. “We know that food will be available during noons and at night,” says ragpicker Lakshmi who with her lot has been assured of meals regularly by a group delivering the same day in and out.
Shiv Sainiks, on their part, has been hugely active in reaching food to the needy. And, they ensure that those waiting for their meals stand at safe distances too. “Once people realise that there’s enough for all, the crazy jostling has stopped,” says Colaba Market resident Susan.
On Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, near the Shiv Sena shakha at Pipewala Building compound, come dusk can be seen a swiftly, moving line of the homeless and hungry awaiting their turn for a fresh meal of khichdi, dal-rice or Sheera.
It is, indeed, heartwarming to find the homeless stand in queue spilling over with gratitude shedding their differences with squabbling foes to share a meal in these times.
As for those who can afford to call in a meal, there’s Zomato, Swiggy and the neighbourhood hotel that functions. For some odd reason, most restaurants – with just their kitchens functioning - do not provide food to locals for takeaways. This, despite the government offering clear directions to the restaurant industry to keep their kitchens open for takeaways.
So, while a few restaurants in Colaba like Kailash Parbat continue to offer ‘limited menu items’ to residents as takeaways, it’s delivery channels such as Zomato and Swiggy who have been reaching food to customers across the zone.
So, political groups ranging from Shiv Sena, INC and the BJP – shedding personal bias - spilled over onto the streets of Mumbai with food packages – sometimes fried rice, sometimes pav bhaji – ready to be handed out to all and sundry. And, the homeless couldn’t have been happier. After all, during mealtimes, the Colabakar had ensured nobody would go hungry.
Why, putting their own lives at risk, most Samaritans hit to the streets like never before. The one thing that remained of concern here was the mandatory social distancing wasn’t being maintained. Not at least in the beginning of the lockdown period when everyone in need seemed desperate to grab a meal or two before, as widely feared, things closed for good.
Shiv Sainiks, on their part, has been hugely active in reaching food to the needy. And, they ensure that those waiting for their meals stand at safe distances too. “Once people realise that there’s enough for all, the crazy jostling has stopped,” says Colaba Market resident Susan.
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| The homeless and the needy, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks, as they stand in line to collect food prepared by Shiv Sainiks near the Shiv Sena shakha at Pipewala Building in Colaba |
On Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, near the Shiv Sena shakha at Pipewala Building compound, come dusk can be seen a swiftly, moving line of the homeless and hungry awaiting their turn for a fresh meal of khichdi, dal-rice or Sheera.
It is, indeed, heartwarming to find the homeless stand in queue spilling over with gratitude shedding their differences with squabbling foes to share a meal in these times.
As for those who can afford to call in a meal, there’s Zomato, Swiggy and the neighbourhood hotel that functions. For some odd reason, most restaurants – with just their kitchens functioning - do not provide food to locals for takeaways. This, despite the government offering clear directions to the restaurant industry to keep their kitchens open for takeaways.
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| Zomato delivery boys (from left) Vishwas Gupta, Sunil Meher, Irfan Khan, Baldev Rathod, Paul Valmiki and Jagdish Chavan risking their lives and resisting family fears to serve in these trying times |
So, while a few restaurants in Colaba like Kailash Parbat continue to offer ‘limited menu items’ to residents as takeaways, it’s delivery channels such as Zomato and Swiggy who have been reaching food to customers across the zone.
(Note: Some subjects may have removed their masks only to be identified in photographs to be used with this news report. COVID-19 appropriate behaviour has been maintained at all times)
#ColabaFightsCorona | Political groups ranging from @Shivsena @INCMumbai @bjp4mumbai - shedding personal bias - spilled onto streets of #Colaba with food packages ready to be handed out to the needy#TheDraftColaba #Covid19 @BjpsouthmumbaiM @ShivsenaCommshttps://t.co/DNzuyXZQvD— The Draft Colaba (@TheDraftColaba) April 4, 2020
