IHA Foundation has always stood with the needy and underpriviledged. On the first day of the Year IHA Foundation Volunteers organized a special drive for the needy and underprivileged by distributing woolen clothes, shawls, mufflers, sweaters, socks blankets, caps and cooked meals (langar), milk, bananas, bread etc. Just like every year, teams of IHA Foundation volunteers patrol the streets of Kolkata and suburbs in vehicles starting from November and identify the needy - men, women and children who are shivering in cold, whose sheets are so thin that they have become wet due to the wintery dew. Overall we have distributed till now more than 6600 Blankets and Shwals this Winter and the number keeps on increasing till no one shivers of Cold in the city, as IHA Foundation Volunteers are patrolling the streets to Share their Warmth.
On Christmas IHA Foundation under the able guidance of its Chairman Satnam Singh Ahluwalia had also initiated a Special Drive this winters of “Unkown Santa”, this drive was initiated through Social Media, where a helpline was circulated, and those persons who could not celebrate the festival this year around due to loss of jobs due to Covid or loss of any earning family members, where provided with ration and other essentials like blankets, shawl and sweets to enable them to celebrate this season without compromising their self respect or disclosing their names or taking any pictures or videos. Various NGO’s like Voice of World, Nikhil Bango Kalyan Samity and others were also supported by IHA Foundation during Christmas and New Year’s.
India is currently experiencing a major hike Covid-19 primarily due to the Omicron variant. There are warnings that we could see a surge of Covid-19 cases. Next few months are going to be the most challenging for us. A third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic due to omicron could hit the country, and if that happens, it could be terrifying. As was the case earlier, the key is to prepare well in advance. Therefore IHA Foundation volunteers have started awareness drives and have arranged for Vaccination of the homeless at various shelters, distribution of masks, Sanitizers and maintenance of all Covid Protocols. It’s a battle for survival for the homeless from the Covid-19 and now omicron, winter, hunger and pollution. With thousands of people living in shelter homes, the risk of transmission will be high.
2021 has been a challenging year at all levels. IHA Foundation started Oxygen Langar Sewa, thereby helping over 10,000 people, the Langar on Wheels initiative served more than 36 Lakhs meals, Ration and other essential weekly assistance were given to more than 25,000 people along with serving and assisting the administration and NGO’s wherever the need arised.
As we bring down the curtains to the year, it is imperative that we do not let our guard down yet and continue wearing masks and maintain social distancing, with the threat of Omicron Virus looming along with ensuring to celebrate the true spirit of the New Year by sharing warmth and love with our near and dear ones.
“This New Year we have initiated a special drive keeping in mind that while some are staying back in the warmth of their homes, many may not be able to keep themselves warm this New Year. Therefore we at IHA Foundation are celebrating this New Year by distributing warm clothes, shawls, caps, woolen wear and other clothing items”, said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman IHA Foundation.
Satnam Singh Ahluwalia further added, “Let’s mark the beginning of the New Year by doing something special, not for ourselves but for those who are less fortunate. After all happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”
