NGO secretary Divyanshu Upadhyay: Distributing 1,000 thalis daily

Volunteers distributing food packets at hospitals and cremation grounds

Last December, mid-day had reported how Farhan Akhtar donated funds to help build a two-room-kitchen for the local Shiv temple priest Ganesh Giri and his family in Varanasi (He didn't forget about us after donating the amount, Dec 15). Now, as the country is in the clutches of the destructive second wave of the pandemic, the star has again rushed to the aid of those affected in the city of Uttar Pradesh. The filmmaker-actor, away from the media glare, has been quietly working with not-for-profit organisation, Hope Welfare Trust, to feed COVID-19 patients in hospitals and their caregivers.

Divyanshu Upadhyay, secretary of the NGO, says that the initiative focuses not only on those severely affected by the infection, but also those working at the Manikarnika and Harischandra shamshan ghats in Varanasi. "Eight of us from the Hope team have been distributing 1,000 thalis every day in the city. Each thali has rice, dal, roti, sabzi, salad and biscuits. If we distribute lunch to the hospitals during the day, at night, we focus on the cremation grounds. Farhan sir has always stood by us in our times of need, and we are grateful for his contribution this time." Upadhyay shares that when the cases began surging in the city, he reached out to Akhtar again through social media. The actor responded immediately, ever willing to lend a helping hand.

Farhan Akhtar

Besides helping the vulnerable sections of the society, the NGO is working round-the-clock to help patients find medical assistance, and amplifying medical resources online. "We have been doing COVID-relief work in areas around Varanasi. It includes helping patients find oxygen cylinders, assisting them to reach hospitals and other medical necessities. [We are also arranging] distribution of medicines," he shares.

Divyanshu Upadhyay