Puja Committees in Kolkata join hands to help Amphan victims

KOLKATA: Puja Committees in Kolkata have now slashed their budgets and joined hands to create funds for the cyclone Amphan ravaged people. Some of these puja committees have already donated a large portion of their fund for distributing food and other essentials among people who went jobless overnight after Covid-19 hit hard.
In north Kolkata puja committees have started pooling in funds after the cyclone hit the city earlier last week.“There are families which suddenly went jobless after lockdown. We tried to help them during these two months. Our resources were also becoming scarce. But when the cyclone ravaged through the city, many of them found it difficult to arrange even a meal for the family,” said Somen Mitra of Kashi Bose Lane puja committee.
Apart from the puja committees, locals started anonymously donating as well. “Many of them did not want to publicise themselves. Instead they silently continued to donate. Some of them donated food, while some donated dry food items,’ he recounted. The Women and Child Development department of the state government also joined hands. Within a few days Puja Committee members were able to collect nearly 600 dresses for women, kids and men apart from biscuits, flattened rice, puffed rice, milk powder and health drinks.
“Initially these puja committees were restricted to ward 17 only. Gradually we plan to extend the help to other nearby wards that need our assistance,” Mitra said.