DESPITE most economic sectors now up and running under the current recovery movement control order (RMCO), several civil society groups are still reaching out to the needy and providing food aid.

One of them is Tara Foundation, which distributes almost 400 food packets to the underprivileged in Kuala Lumpur.

Its founder, Pardip Kumar Kukreja, told The Malaysian Insight that, although the consignment is not as large as it was during the MCO period, they are still people out there in need of help.

He said this was a continuation of Project Mother, which began on March 23, days after the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

The Tara Foundation was set up in partnership with Pure Life Society, Global Hindu Federation, United Malaysian Hindu Voice, Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram and Malaysian Narayani Foundation.

Now, it is also working with Bodhi Citta Buddhist Association, which is helping to prepare the meals.

“Bodhi Citta Buddhist Association is giving us about 400 packets of cooked food daily and we are distributing them to the homeless in Kuala Lumpur.

“About 250 packets of food are distributed in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Chow Kit, and another 150 packets in Kepong,” Pardip said, adding it has distributed almost 50,000 meals since starting the project. 

He added that it was looking to continue doing so till at least next month.

He said several temples have also come on board to join the initiative.

“This is likely to be the first time that as many as 10 temples have joined to do this kind of service.

“When the situation stabilised, the temples stopped participating and Bodhi Citta Buddhist Association joined.”

The United Malaysian Hindu Voice, meanwhile, also initiated its own project called Project Achayapatra, distributing groceries to the needy during the MCO.

Its coordinator, Naraesh Pillai, said the group is still continuing the project but on a smaller scale.

He said the focus now is on families who are struggling during the RMCO and those in rural areas.

“We still have allocations for the project.

“Our focus is on families who are badly in need help. Some have lost jobs, have no income or have seen a reduced income due to the economic crisis.  

“Families in rural areas are often missed. So, we are looking to help these groups,” he said.

Naraesh said the project has distributed groceries to almost 500 families since its inception.

Meanwhile, a group of football friends in Kuala Lumpur who started helping families living in People’s Housing Programme (PPR) flats during MCO are also continuing to distribute groceries.

Vijay Kumar, 35, said the group continues to collect money from teammates but now has to reduce the number of people they help as they are not able to collect as much as they did during the MCO.

“We are still doing it but on a small scale. Maybe about five to 10 families weekly.

“Collections have reduced as the donors are also facing a tough time themselves, but we will continue until we can,” he added.

Vijay said they donate basic groceries like rice, eggs and sardines to families at the Pantai Dalam PPR.

To date, Vijay said they have helped close to 100 families.

Malaysia has gone through various phases of movement restrictions from March 18 in a bid to flatten the Covid-19 curve.

The country is now in the RMCO phase, which began on June 10 and will continue until August 31. – June 20, 2020.