By Pradeep Kumar
ITANAGAR, May 09: The sufferings of around 12 lakh people including students of North East region, who always are victims of one or other reason in national capital region (NER), have multiplied by COVID-19 pandemic but NGO Helping Hands have been trying to offer solace to them.
An intellectual having decades-long ties with Arunachal Pradesh told over telephone from New Delhi on Saturday attributed the mass suffering to ongoing nationwide lockdown (46th day on Saturday). Life has come to standstill while Delhi reported 224 new COVID-19 cases between 4 pm (Friday) to 12 am (Saturday) taking total to 6,542, including 4,454 active, according to a state health ministry bulletin which indicated the intensified spread of the virus, the retired top bureaucrat said.
He lauded Helping Hands, set up his IAS/IPS colleagues in 2014 to mobilize resources involving Good Samaritans, for its humanitarian services particularly to NE people, not only on NCR but in various metropolitan cities of the nation. When Helping Hands founder Robin Hibu, Delhi Police special commissioner, was contacted to verify the authenticity, he smilingly said “We are doing as true human beings are expected to do.
Admitting that COVID-19 has created an unprecedented situation, he disclosed that 30 to 40% of them are mostly engaged in petty trades and unregistered private enterprises and fall victims of racial discrimination, abuse by house owners asking them to vacate houses rented to them, but how to get food stuff have become tough now.
Therefore, the Helping Hands with its 12 vehicles has been trying to reach out to as many of them to provide ration and food stuff after cross verification.
When asked how it is possible to reach them in NCR, spread in vast 54,984 km² area, he said that with the help of North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), an offshoot of humanitarian efforts, the 24×7 efforts have been bearing fruits. The NE people have been sending SMSes, messages though 24 WhatSaap groups and Helping Hands helpline, setup with the help of Delhi Police, which have been facilitating to reach them.
When asked to explain the disaster caused by COVID-19, he recalled his past experiences as East Siang SP how he had faced the flood catastrophe in Pasighat. Breach of artificial blockade in Tsangfo River in Tibet had swelled Siang River and 30-feet flood water had inundated centurion Pasighat, HQs of East Siang district, located on the bank of Siang on the midnight of 09.06.2000. It had caused massive damages to properties and claimed seven lives including a helpless mother two children. The IAF had deployed a helicopter the next day and a team led by him had rescued many marooned people but the three could not be saved as it was nearing darkness. I remember covering this news then.
Delhi Police going out of way has been distributing rations by extending all its resources to stranded NE people. But of late NEC has chipped in to sponsor rations while other donors included Union MoS (Home) Nityanand Rai, former Nagaland CS Alemteshi Jamir, Moses Chalai (IAS), Padi Tatung, Keshang Rai & Mein (IRS), Koj Rinya (IFS), Muthoot Group, Black Fin Group…even has donated rations, he said, adding mobilizing them to ensure that the needy and hapless get the help is the need of the hour. He quoted ‘When there is a will, there is a way’.
As my interaction was on, an SMS came from Union High Commission for Refugees: ‘Will it be possible to help 100 Burmese-Chin families who in Vikahspuri & Janakpuri refugee camps are in dire need of ration’.
In fact, Hibu is the first IPS officer of Arunachal belonging to 1993 batch but known for his ‘never die spirit’, particularly as first nodal officer of NE people NE, appointed by the MoHA and also instrumental in exclusive recruitment of NE youth for Delhi Police .
20