The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) Mumbai in collaboration with InSIDE-North East distributed essential items, including food items, water, face masks and sanitizers to those people who were homebound, at Lokamanya Tilak Terminal Railway Station, Mumbai on Monday.
A release issued by KSO Mumbai information and publicity secretary Seigoulen Khongsai stated that the organisation distributed food packages consisting of chapatti, dry fruits, fruit juice and five water bottles to each 1,700 returnees for their four-day long journey.
The release expressed gratitude towards the relentless efforts of the Manipur government, the Maharashtra government, Mumbai police, BMC Indian Railways and nodal officer Anurag Bajpai for the travel arrangement for the peole of the state wanting to return home to Manipur.
The release stated that the KSO was able extend help to the returnees with the support from three Mumbai-based non-government organisations namely Ghar Bhejo, Madras Diaries and Khanna Chahiye led by their founders Neeti Goel, Ruben Mascarenhas and their teams.
The KSO also acknowledged the support of the Kuki Welfare Association, Mumbai, proprietor InSIDE-North East and other persons from Manipur for helping the organisation in distributing the items and to Radio Mirchi for providing media coverage.
Stating that there were alleged reports where returnees boarding the 1st phase train on May 23 were facing shortage of food on their way, the initiative of the organisation will ensure that the returnees will not be starving on the way anymore.
“It is our endeavour always to serve and we are fortunate that we could be a reason for the smiles in the faces of a few people, who have been rendered jobless, alone and broke by the pandemic,” the KSO added.