COMMUNITY COMBATS CORONAVIRUS

Rupanjana Dutta & Priyanka Mehta Wednesday 18th March 2020 07:18 EDT
 
Coronavirus Action Group formed in Chigwell by Councillor Pranav Bhanot (first from right)
 

There is a famous expression in English– "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going." With Prime Minister Boris Johnson not offering enough security during this coronavirus pandemic, leaving people to fight it with ‘herd immunity’, the country is engulfed with panic and ultimate chaos. 111 is redirecting worried callers to the NHS general website and tests are not being offered to symptomatic patients on the basis of random political theories. However doctors and medical professionals who are in the frontline have emerged as heroes, risking their lives to save lives, while the government is busy playing political games. 

The government has also pretty much left Britons on their own device, to fend and survive. But as resilient as human civilisations have historically been, people are coming together in solidarity to help each other, irrespective of differences- to feed and take care of the community that they have built with blood and toil. 

Locals have formed groups, to help the self-isolated especially elderly with shopping, mailing letters, picking up click and collect groceries and newspapers as well as call around for a friendly chat. In such adversity, coronavirus has created a meaningful bond among people and an unprecedented empathy towards lonely people. Of course kindness isn’t contagious and many have witnessed savage and selfish acts over toiletries and supplies, across the world, but as our newspaper went to press, we came across millennials in superstores who have given away their last bag of pasta to the elderly. But the boomers with their ignorance towards sustainability has actually been seen walking away with a dozen rice bags, while others scavenge for it through rows of empty shelves. A viral video, that has been also shared by Lord Rami Ranger, calling it ‘disgraceful', shows a couple of Asian men, walking away with trolley full of big bags of rice in a supermarket, while others ran about in sheer panic seeing the empty shelves.

Maitrayee Ghosh is visiting her son who is studying in London, speaking to Asian Voice, expressed her anger about how people are behaving inconsiderately in the superstores. “I went to our local superstore to pick up some necessary food items. My son is a student, and lives in a small room. There is not much space to store food, so we sort of do our shopping daily. The other day I walked into the store and saw only empty shelves! Then I went to a nearby shop to buy supplies, and to my surprise I saw that they have changed the prices to astronomical figures. Customers were fighting about it but it did not make any difference to these people.”

Varun Mehta, who lives not too far from Ealing told us, “Not all shops are being angelic about this situation. Let alone helping the elderly and self-isolated people with drop-offs, they are selling small hand sanitisers at £10 and 25kgs Chapatti Atta (flour) at £25 instead of £9. £16 increase over a week. How will the low income households survive?”Angry consumers are individually and collectively writing to Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a non-ministerial government department in the UK, responsible for strengthening business competition and preventing and reducing anti-competitive activities asking for a formal investigation by naming and shaming shops who are inflating prices beyond control, "It has become very apparent that over the last few days some of the main local grocers that supply the general public, particularly the Asian community have increased their prices quoting that ‘it is not them but the suppliers who have increased their prices’ and they are simply passing on this surcharge to the consumer.’ "We have visited numerous local shops, all of whom have increased their prices on main staple items which the local community rely on. It is evident that the South Asian community heavily rely on a selected few retailers in East London for the supply of items such as Rice, Meat, Poultry and Fish."Some of the items described have seen an increase of almost 40%. This increase in effect has a massive impact on those on a tighter budget and forces them to find alternatives which seems rather unjust and unfair particularly at a time of uncertainty.
“We trust that CMA will investigate the concerns raised  and reassure myself and others within the wider community. If you should require any further information or evidence, please do not hesitate to contact us."

The other face of corner shops
Not all corner shops, supermarkets and cash-and carry shops are being so ruthless. Deepen Patel (popularly known as Dee) is a friendly face from Meet & Deep News in Twickenham area. He looks after the business with his parents, who are of Indian-Gujarati origin. Speaking to Asian Voice, Dee said, “We have kept the pricing fair as we have a regular client base and they always support us. We don’t want to take advantage of them in their time of need.”

On their facebook page, owner and Dee’s father Shashi Patel have announced, “For anyone in the Twickenham green area, if you are elderly, house bound or have self-isolated and need any essential, give us a shout or send a facebook message and one of my sons will bring some stuff over! (We don't have any toilet roll or hand sanitiser... but there's plenty of chocolate bars and alcohol). #MeetAndDeepFamily.”

Dee added, “We had regular elderly customers coming to buy newspapers. We do’t want them to take the trouble given the situation. If they ring us if they are not feeling well, or are at self-isolation, we can even deliver their newspapers to their doorstep. Many elderly cant use internet, and are lonely- we are even up for a chat or help them to call 111 or read out advises from the websites. We have also got some books- if anybody wants to have a read, since they can’t socialise-they can help themselves!”

Swimming against the tide is also Zahid Iqbal, owner of local cash-and-carry shop DaytoDay Drylaw in Scotland.

Ever since the government announced for over 70s to self-isolate themselves amidst PHE warnings that around 80% of old people could contract the virus, Iqbal and his five team members have been out on the streets of Edinburgh delivering packets to old people. Speaking to Asian Voice, Iqbal said, “We are giving out free Coronavirus packets to everyone who is 65 and above and also to disabled people who can’t come to the shop, that is why we are delivering these packets to them. Each packet contains a toilet roll, a strip of paracetamol, a bottle of antibacterial handwash and a packet of tissue papers.” 

Over the last few weeks Iqbal has made 700 such packets with each costing anywhere between £4-£5 including the cost of the delivering these packets to care homes and older people with five other team members across Scotland. He explains that he has invested a total of £5,000 worth of his savings and had started to stock supplies at his cash and carry on 20 Easter drylaw place following a scene at Asda. He said, “I went to Asda with my father and saw that all the youngsters are stockpiling. The old people were  hardly getting anything. Additionally, we had numerous daily customers walking into our shops and complaining about how supplies were found at inflated prices in other shops. 

“And I thought that this is the time one stands shoulder-to-shoulder with those in need especially when I looked at my own father. That is when I thought I have to do something for my community and to set a good example of humanity.

“I am strictly against putting prices up at a crucial stage like this, we all need to stick together and get through these tough times!”

Iqbal says that his next plan is to make food bags which will have pasta and tinned goods in them and slated to deliver them anytime this week. While he cannot disclose the names of the care homes they have been supplying to for confidentiality purposes, he speaks about how his team have been careful in taking to the streets especially amidst fears of contracting the infection. He said, “We are aware of the risks that we are running in being infected in the process. But we are following all safety measures and PHE guidelines. This includes using hand sanitizer for washing our hands regularly after dealing with money, maintaining the minimum 1m distance between each other and especially not touching our face.”

Iqbal is not the only one helping these old people in Scotland. Another couple Asiyah Javed and her husband in Falkirk have been similarly distributing free goody bags at their shops. These goody bags have hand gels and face masks in them and each bag costs £2 to put together.

"My grandparents have passed away, but we still think of them when we see all this. We spent a lot of time with our grandparents and we feel that if they were alive we wouldn't want them to be struggling," said Asiyah.

Similar efforts are being carried out by corner shops in the capital city of Wales, Cardiff. Members particularly in Grangetown community including the SKPLC centre have started setting up volunteer groups to help old people self-isolate. Wild Things Cafe in the patch is another such example who have launched a free home delivery service and an in-house community shop as well. However elderly have also been warned of frauds, who are cheating the old, by offering to help them shop and running away with the money provided to buy the items.

Places of worship helping people
While temples, mosques and gurdwaras have suspended all gatherings, closing their door to events, some limiting ‘darshan’ times, many are helping to provide food service to the vulnerable as a part of their ‘seva’ . BAPS Swaminarayan Temple at Neasden in a statement said, “Darshan of the murtis at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as the Neasden Temple – is available every morning from the Mandir’s website, while the arti is also available to view each evening through a live web stream. Online resources are already provided to families encouraging them to conduct their own ‘ghar sabha’ (home assembly) to help foster family unity and spiritual understanding. Other online platforms and tools are being employed to allow devotees to receive regular updates and important guidance on how to stay safe and stable.”

Shruti Patel, a worshipper at the Mandir, said, “During this incredibly difficult time for so many people across the world, my family, including our two young children, are extremely grateful for these ways to remain connected with the Mandir and keep our faith alive when we need it the most.” 

Guru Maneyo Granth Gurdwara in Slough is out providing food support to elderly who are more than 65 years old. An advertisement doing rounds on their social media, says, “Guru Manyeo Granth Gurdwara are providing a free food service to the elderly who have isolated due to Covid-19.We are offering a daily free mobile food service to those in need in the community of Slough. Providing healthy and nutritious essentials to help the elderly get through this challenging time. If you need food delivered please contact us on 07960 781799/07492 383057.”⠀

In the meantime, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the largest organisation for Muslims across the UK has issued a strong recommendation for Muslim communities across the country to suspend all congregational activities, given the latest advice on the coronavirus (Covid-19). Harun Khan, Secretary General of the MCB in a statement said,

“Muslim communities up and down the country, like others, have been carefully considering how best to continue with our regular social and religious activities, whilst trying to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.

“Whether it be at the mosques (particularly Friday prayers) which draw crowds including the elderly, vulnerable and those at high risk, weddings, social events or simple day-to-day activities, it is imperative that this extraordinary step is taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities, and our country as a whole. The MCB is confident that the Muslim community will undertake the difficult measures needed in such unprecedented times and put our trust in Allah.”
Community action groups
Pranav Bhanot, a young Councillor from Chigwell has set up a Coronavirus Action Group with cleaners, lawyers, delivery drivers and mental health experts based in Chigwell, in an attempt to make the area as safe and hygienic as possible.

On Sunday 15 March, volunteers from across Chigwell worked together to disinfect public areas including the local tube stations (Grange Hill and Chigwell), bus stops, public play grounds in Chigwell and Chigwell Row, the library, the petrol station and hand railings around public footpaths. So far the campaign has raised almost £350.
Other initiatives set up by the same group include a shopping delivery service for elderly and vulnerable residents, providing legal advice to people concerned about their employment and anxiety counselling for anyone worried about the spread of coronavirus.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Cllr Bhanot added, “The aim of the initiative is not to cause panic or undue alarm but simply to be as proactive as possible. It is hoped that the campaign will inspire other community groups to take a proactive approach to reduce the impact of coronavirus.”

Residents of Tower Hamlets, like many others have also created a group to help the locals. They have produced campaigns in Bengali (Tower Hamlets is has a high Bangladeshi population), to spread awareness about coronavirus and to circulate among locals, especially at self-isolation, who need help but can’t communicate (read or speak) in English and only understand Bengali.

Sonal Sher in Woking is one such person who has organised a local volunteering group which is ready to help old people during self isolation. She said, “Our group which has more than 20 members right now will help delivering food and other essential supplies to people who are unable to go out in their area to fetch basic everyday supplies from their corner shops.”Hindu Council UK is also tweeting asking people to register through google document to help the community as a neighbour during such daunting times. 


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