Relief work (Phase 2)

We as a part of the Bidyang Dehi family are helping multiple local organizations this time. Of course, this is just the first round of help and we are expecting to reach out to more local organizations with our fundraising.

For this time, we are sending out our donations to the following organizations:

1. Two chapters of 'Pashchimbanga Vigyan Mancha' (one in Malda and one in Bandel-Bagra) and another local committee in Uttarpara for refilling the oxygen tank, doing testing, donating masks, sanitizers and giving food and other necessary things to the families who have been quarantined for being covid positive.

2. Donated reusable masks to people in the slum areas of Kharagpur, W.B. These masks are reusable for one year and we are ordering in bulk so we get a lower price per unit.

3. Donated money for buying oxygen cylinders to Shakti Sangha Purulia.

4. Donated sanitizers, surgical masks, cotton hats, hand soaps to 450 Group D labor workers of Chandannagar Municipal Corporation, W.B.

5. Donated towards the purchase of two oxygen cylinders (47 kg each) in Chandannagore.

6. Donated towards the purchase of oximeters by Bastibasi Sramajibi Adhikar Rakkha Committee (BSARC) in Kolkata.

Relief work (Phase 1)

We, on behalf of Bidyang Dehi family, are raising funds to immediately support BD scholars families whose livelihoods are being completely impaired due to the country-wide shutdown. In addition to that we are helping out "Sabar" families in Purulia district, West Bengal and BPL families in Chak-kathaliya village, North 24 Parganas, who are also desperately in need of food and daily basic supplies during this lockdown period.

We want to share the message that we received from one of the members of Paschim Banga Kheriya Sobor Kalyan Samiti:

Paschim Banga Kheriya Sobor Kalyan Samiti writes this appeal to those who possibly have the resources to acquire the necessities to keep themselves safe inside four walls and under a roof for the next few weeks. In order for one section of the society to be able to live in prosperity, another huge part of the population has to undergo inhuman forced sacrifices and loot of their labour - like fuel burnt to keep the engine running. Crores of people trying to walk to their homes right now across the country are that fuel for this society. Like so many others, West Bengal’s Kheriya Sabars have also been forced to act like fuel for the larger society. Pre-agricultural hunting and food-gathering Sabar community have been forced to become agricultural labourers and daily wage workers. Because their mainstay for a dignified and peaceful life - their forests - have been captured from them either by means of law, or by destroying their forests for ‘Development’. For long Sabars of West Bengal have been reeling under hunger and poverty. Now the Corona epidemic has made their lives even more precarious. The pre-existing troubles of the Kheriya Sabars, plus the new worries that the epidemic has added on to their lives, are listed in summary in the attached Word document. We have also written about these to CM Mamata Bandyopadhyay, asking for immediate steps to mitigate this disaster.

Meanwhile, the Samiti has been working tirelessly with the Sabar community members for the past few days in dealing with the crisis we are faced with. The Government is providing rice and flour, but for the other essential items needed for a healthy living, we ourselves need to mobilize. At this hour of crisis, we therefore appeal to you to play your role as a conscious and conscientious citizen, by assisting the Samiti financially in its efforts.

We greatly appreciate the contributions from members of BD family and our friends. Details here

Recent updates

We received pictures and updates from one of the Samiti office bearers for Paschim Banga Kheriya Sobor Kalyan Samiti (PBKSKS). They received Rs/- 1,15,819 from us (which is INR equivalent of $1545). Note that, we have sent $1100 to 22 BD scholar families who lost their primary source of income due to this country-wide lockdown.

PBKSKS have been working with State Officials, DM, BDO, and SP. Because it's almost impossible to do anything at this large scale without government's assistance. There are many other organizations who are helping the Sabar families near the main town, but PBKSKS is mainly trying to help the people from the villages that are more remotely located. These are villages which are at the border of West Bengal and Jharkhand (near Bundwan block). They are also talking to DM to find more ways to solve other immediate problems like malnutrition for the kids there etc.

So, our fund-raised money has been used to buy essential foods for Shabar families. The details we have got so far - Rice - 25 kg. Dal - 5kg. Oil - 2 Lt. Potato - 10 kg. Salt - 2 packs. Onion - 2 kg. Turmeric - 100 gm. Jira - 200 gm. Garlic -100 gm. Soap - 3 packs. Detergent powder - 2 packs.

They spent Rs/- 1900 per family (for two weeks we believe) and around 1000 Sabar families were helped in this round. This is, of course, can not happen only with our donation and donation from many other NGOs/individuals were used.

We are providing an approximate location of the villages in a google map snapshot, also for the villages under block Bundwan,

Although, our work has not been done yet. We anticipate that coming days would be much harder for these poor villagers. Hopefully, we would get your support in future to help them again if needed. So, please stay tuned!