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Mumbai’s beach clean-up hero prepares hot meals for the destitute during lockdown

3 min read

Good Stuff
Source: Facebook/AfrozShah

Afroz Shah, the Mumbai-based lawyer, humanitarian and environmental activist who spearheaded the Versova beach cleanup, is now supporting the poorest of the poor, and even stray cats and dogs.

Afroz Shah steps up to serve those least able to fend for themselves

The ongoing lockdown imposed to counter the coronavirus crisis has hit Mumbai’s poorest in a major way, report The Times of India. While the state government has been making an effort to provide food and essentials to the daily wage earners, migrants and those living on the streets, a few private individuals are also stepping up with their own generous efforts to help them as much as possible. And it came as no surprise to BrightVibes to discover that our friend Afroz Shah, the Mumbai-based lawyer, humanitarian and environmental activist who spearheaded the miraculous Versova beach cleanup, is one of them.

He also got the group of beach volunteers to help the needy around their own homes. Times of India caught up with him in between a packed day, when he was trying to get lunch meals ready. “I’m preparing 50 meals for lunch and 50 meals for dinner, “he told them.
Shah has now taken on the task of feeding the poor. He also got the group of beach volunteers to help the needy around their own homes. Times of India caught up with him in between a packed day, when he was trying to get lunch meals ready. “I’m preparing 50 meals for lunch and 50 meals for dinner, “he told them. Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
With social distancing in mind, he came up with his plan. He explained, “A lot of people who are distributing food are breaking norms of social distancing, which is dangerous. I decided for the first few days, I cooked and standardised about four or five recipes.”
The food is served within 1-km of it being made. With social distancing in mind, he came up with his plan. He explained, “A lot of people who are distributing food are breaking norms of social distancing, which is dangerous. I decided for the first few days, I cooked and standardised about four or five recipes.” Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
“I make lunch for 50 people and lunch and dinner for 50 people. I keep it outside my building gate and there is a volunteer who goes and distributes by leaving it for then. The meals I am making are all home cooked, there is no (professional) catering involved and they are served hot within a kilometre of where it is prepared.“
Shah is feeding the poor in his locality “I make lunch for 50 people and lunch and dinner for 50 people. I keep it outside my building gate and there is a volunteer who goes and distributes by leaving it for then. The meals I am making are all home cooked, there is no (professional) catering involved and they are served hot within a kilometre of where it is prepared.“ Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
“Together, it comes up to about meals for 600 people. Someone asked me if they could give a check for the work we are doing, but we have refused it. What is needed, if people help personally. Taking up a task like this is something that can also build leadership skills in people,” says Shah.
Around six volunteers came forward to join in via their own home kitchens as well. “Together, it comes up to about meals for 600 people. Someone asked me if they could give a check for the work we are doing, but we have refused it. What is needed, if people help personally. Taking up a task like this is something that can also build leadership skills in people,” says Shah. Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
He is also helping the cities stray animals. “We opened 13 centres for feeding stray cats and dogs and today, 450 of them are being fed of these locations,” he added.
Shah carried out a ration distribution for about 2000 families. He is also helping the cities stray animals. “We opened 13 centres for feeding stray cats and dogs and today, 450 of them are being fed of these locations,” he added. Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
Shah tweeted: “ Dogs - on the street - are the worst sufferers during this tough times. Never had a dog as a companion but today I stepped out to feed them .They are hungry and lonely. After being in self isolation - I stepped out to pick the dog feed. Some fed now. Some later.”
Four-legged friends not forgotten: cats and dogs catered for Shah tweeted: “ Dogs – on the street – are the worst sufferers during this tough times. Never had a dog as a companion but today I stepped out to feed them .They are hungry and lonely. After being in self isolation – I stepped out to pick the dog feed. Some fed now. Some later.” Source: Facebook/AfrozShah
The lockdown affects the poorest of poor and animals on the streets the most Source: Facebook/SurajThaker
Shah at his home, cooking for the homeless Source: IndiaTimes
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