FOOD, MEDICAL CARE AND BUILDING MATERIALS
Disaster Relief Programs
Respect everyone, love everyone, and serve everyone.
Sant Baljit Singh Ji
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra organizes charitable social service programs to proactively respond and serve during natural disasters. When communities lose all their possessions due to unexpected natural disasters, our volunteers immediately approach the local administration to provide relief to the victims. In demanding times like this, we step forward and work together in collaboration with local authorities, to care and then share with our brothers and sisters facing the gruelling situation.
We invite you to click through the tabs below to learn more about our disaster relief programs.
Fire Relief
In the slums and villages, impoverished families live in tiny shanties and huts that are packed very closely together. Fire outbreaks often spread quickly through these areas causing extensive damage to the dense and poorly maintained housing structures.
Fire outbreaks can occur for any number of reasons, e.g. cooking left unattended, electrical wiring fault, clothes catching fire from an open fire, etc. In such tragic circumstances, these families suffer untold grief from the loss of their homes, possessions, and sometimes even their loved ones. With limited means at their disposal, the families in need are reliant on relief efforts to donate and distribute food and basic necessities to help them rebuild their lives and homes.
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra arranges charitable relief programs to help these families in need. Our volunteers cook wholesome food that are packed in small packets for distribution to the victims of these devastating fires. We also give ration kits, cooking utensils, clothes, toiletry items, blankets, folding beds, mattresses, trunks, and building materials to rebuild their houses.
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra has undertaken these charitable activities in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
Fire Relief Programs 2021
In 2021, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) continued to organize fire relief charitable activities whilst adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines issued by the local, state and central bodies. In the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradhesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Chandigarh we donated ration kits, clothes, folding beds, mattresses, blankets, utensils, toiletry items, waterproof PVC canvas, and mats.
On April 11, 2021, VMRK volunteers learned of an unfortunate and massive fire in the slum area near village Bahlolpur and Sector 63A, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 350 jhuggies (slum dwellings typically made of mud and corrugated iron) were destroyed and some lives were lost as well.
The destruction was so extensive that the entire site was razed to the ground and nothing was left. The impoverished families living in those jhuggies had nowhere else to go. They desperately needed help during this very tough time.
VMRK volunteers immediately started to provide cooked food to these fire victims. We distributed cooked food for 4 days, and each day we served 25kg of milk and 600 meals. Each plate of freshly cooked wholesome food offered a selection of:
- rice pulao with green vegetables or curry with rice; or
- dal with rice; or
- rice, poori veggie, and halwa.
Through out these activities, VMRK volunteers followed Covid-19 guidelines. The local people and administration appreciated the compassion and spirit of public welfare shown by VMRK volunteers.
The photo gallery below shows some of the fire relief programmes undertaken by Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra in 2021.
Fire Relief (pre Covid-19)
This photo gallery shows some of the fire relief programmes undertaken by Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra in previous years before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Flood Relief
The Indian subcontinent receives most of its annual rainfall during the summer monsoon from June – September while the southeastern coastal regions experience heavy rainfall during the northeast monsoon from October – December. During these months torrential rainfall often cause flash floods and landslides as villages are inundated by these heavy downpours.
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra organizes relief programs during these difficult times. Here are some stories of our flood relief efforts.
August 2023 Mandi Flood Relief
India has a tropical climate and after the scorching summer the whole country eagerly awaits the monsoon rain. However, this year’s monsoon brought excessive rainfall that caused flooding in many states. One northen state, Himachal Pradesh, experienced severe flash floods and landslides. The Mandi district was particularly affected …
July 2023 North India Flood Relief
Heavy monsoon rains caused severe flooding and landslides in many states in northern India. The deluge affected mainly people living in low-lying areas and along river banks. Inspired by Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s teachings that emphasise serving and helping those in need, VMRK offered flood relief charitable services …
Flood Relief (pre Covid-19) — Uttar Pradesh Flood 2018
In August and September 2018, Uttar Pradesh reeled under incessant rains and the rising Ganga river. As massive flooding wreaked havoc across multiple districts, military personnel rescued and evacuated people stranded by the floods, trying to seek shelter from collapsing buildings or lightning strikes.
Flood Relief (pre Covid-19) — Bihar Flood 2017
Bihar is India’s most flood-prone state due to torrential rain in the foothills of the Himalayas during the summer monsoon season. In August 2017, a sudden increase in water discharge due to the heavy monsoon downpours in Nepal and Bihar led to flash floods after rivers broke their banks.
Flood Relief (pre Covid-19) — Chennai Flood 2015
In November 2015, low pressure weather systems brought heavy rains that lashed the region causing massive flooding. The flooding in Chennai was described as the worst in a century. In December, another low pressure system developed and heavy rain continued to inundate many areas of Chennai.
Flood Relief (pre Covid-19) — Srinagar Flood 2014
In September 2014, torrential rainfall in Kashmir resulted in disastrous floods across many districts. Heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides. 2,600 villages were reportedly affected with 390 villages completely submerged. Many parts of Srinagar were inundated, and vital roads were submerged.
Earthquake Relief (pre Covid-19)
In 2015, two major earthquakes struck Nepal within weeks of each other. The earthquakes toppled multistory buildings in the capital Kathmandu, and triggered landslides and avalanches in the Himalaya mountains. The first earthquake on April 25, 2015 was the deadliest earthquake in that region in 81 years. The second earthquake on May 12, 2015 caused mass panic among the many people who had already been forced to live in the open after the April 25, 2015 earthquake. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force mounted rescue and relief efforts in the stricken areas. They were supported by army personnel from different countries and local volunteers.
Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra contributed to the emergency relief by packing and donating ration kits to distribute to the survivors. The ration kits contained essential food supplies such as daal (lentils), rice, rusks, bottled water, milk powder, sugar, biscuits, potato crisps, instant noodles, and salt, along with match sticks, soap, tooth paste, shampoo, and cloth. Our volunteers helped the locals to rebuild their homes after the earthquakes.
