Imphal, May 7, 2020: The Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS), a developmental wing of the Archdiocese of Imphal, distributed dry rations to 2898 families in 42 villages within seven districts of Manipur.

Father Biju Luckose, director of DSSS, Father Thohrii Joseph, assistant director and Father Dale Joseph, financial administrator of the Archdiocese of Imphal and the staff of DSSS spearheaded the relief aid distribution.

The relief work was carried out for five days in these seven districts which include Imphal East, Imphal West, Chandel, Churchandpur, Senapati, Tengnoupal, and Kangpokpi.

The COVID-19 relief aid was the initiative of the Archbishop Dominic Lumon, the head of the Catholic Church in Manipur to reach out with a little helping hand to some of the remote villages of Manipur during this pandemic crisis.

In this time of crisis not only prayer alone but goodwill action, gesture and solidarity to our suffering and struggling brothers and sisters is the need of the hour, the Archbishop said.

The villages in the far-flung areas expressed their deep sense of gratitude and happiness for taking an initiative to reach out to them despite the rain and road conditions.

The distribution was carried out maintaining the social norms and rules of the social distancing laid down by the government.

The aids were distributed with the assistance of the village authority and volunteers of the respective villages.

The relief aid included 5kgs of rice, 1 kg of pulses, 1kg of salt, turmeric, Dettol soap, hand wash, phenol, and masks.

DSSS reiterates its stand to cooperate with the government and do whatever is possible in its fight against COVID 19 in Manipur, North East India.

It maybe noted that on April 8 the same relief aid has been carried out for 197 households in the premises of the DSSS for stranded rent households and laborers in an around Lamlongei and Mantripukhri.

(Courtesy: The Morning Bell)