Jamshedpur Jesuits' Response to Covid-19
COVID-19 pandemic is playing havoc all over the world and creating sufficient disruptions in the human society. The worst disruption has been taking place in the lives of migrants, daily wage workers, farmers, landless labourers, contract auto/taxi drivers and families below poverty line in cities. The visuals of migrants walking home reminds some about the biblical exodus and some others about the heart-breaking partition of India and Pakistan.
The three Eastern states of India, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, sends the greatest number of men and women as labour force to the Southern and Western states of India. Jamshedpur Province area did not feel the disruption in the lives of people, initially. A good number of Good Samaritans in Jamshedpur city made sure that deserving people do not go hungry in the East Singhbhum district. Our visits to railways station, bus stand and marketplaces did not connect us to people in whom we need to be involved.
What shall we do? Whom shall we reach out? These two questions taunted Jamshedpur Jesuits when the first phase of nationwide lockdown was introduced in the country. While the Southern and Western Jesuit Provinces were fully engaged in accompanying stranded migrants from Eastern states of India, the Jamshedpur Jesuits and alumni of our institutes started connecting with the families of migrants in remote areas of the Province area. Since then we have reached out approximately 8825 households and 24221 individuals through various relief activities.
Until May 13, the Jamshedpur Province area maintained green zone status, except Bhubaneswar, the capital of state of Odisha. This scenario has completely changed and recording big spike in positive cases. Within a period of two weeks, Jamshedpur city area has recorded 96 positive cases, including two of our Scholastics Biren Baa and Nitish Xaxa who came by shramik train from Chennai. Sch. Praveen Jose narrates the travel ordeals from the time they were asked to go back to their respective Provinces. The return of migrants from cities to the villages is pushing us to new frontiers. The post covid-19 will offer new apostolic priorities as the youth may not prefer to return to cities in the near future.
