COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. India along with other countries was shut down, and people were confined to their houses due to the lockdown. The poor were the worst affected and died of hunger and not of coronavirus disease. The plight of the migrant workers went unnoticed by the concerned authorities. The workers situation was dire as the lockdown drove them to extreme poverty and hunger. Fear gripped the world.

When people hesitated to step out of their houses even for essential services, brave hearts from SJEC and other Institutions run by Bangalore Jesuit Educational Society and other religious congregations stepped into action. On April 14, 2020, these institutions got into COVID Relief Work by packing food kits and distributing them to the people in need by providing them food and provisions.

Rev. Fr. Brian Periera S.J, the Rector of St. Joseph’s Institutions and Director of St. Joseph’s Evening College wanted to help the poor despite the fear and led the team of COVID Relief Work.

“A total of 20,000 food kits were packed. Of which more than 19,000 kits were distributed among migrant workers, daily wage workers, orphanages, old age homes, cemetery workers, among others,” said Mr. Ebenezer Sam, who was part of the relief work, and Assistant Professor, Dept. of BBA, SJEC. “The relief work covered areas such as Nagawara, Marathahalli, Bannergatta Road, J.P Nagar. The relief work also reached out to outskirts of Bangalore such as Solur, Nelamangala, Anekal, among others. Apart from dry provision kits, around 800 cooked food packets was distributed for 20 days to migrant and construction workers,” he informed To a visitor observing the relief work, the work area was a sea of people in masks working together irrespective of their gender, religion and designations. The volunteers worked swiftly and in unison to meet the target of the day. Age was just a number for many of the senior professors who took part in the work. They were actively involved in the strenuous physical work and showed up the next day without fail.

The professors felt the relief work was deeply satisfying as they could contribute in helping the people in need. Some of them felt satisfied by the work and felt a sense of relief from guilt as they were doing their bit to help the needy that were affected by the lockdown. Some Professors felt that the work was well spent time with their Josephite family, and it was a good experience to work with the like-minded Josephite family members who constantly reach out to the underprivileged. Almost all professors unanimously declare that it was a positive experience and they felt a sense of joy in contributing in a small way.
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