Reaching out to the needy

"It’s time to go home,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently advised visitors and international students in Australia.

“If they cannot support themselves then there is the alternative for them to return to their home countries,”

MELBOURNE

Monica Raizada: Women of Wyndham (WOW) and Wyndham Interfaith Network (WIN)

“Imagine listening to that statement by the Prime minister as a newly enrolled student who arrived in February-March this year to start their semester,” Monica Raizada told Indian Link. “Those students are the worst affected. They’ve had limited opportunities to create friendships, they are still to find jobs and their classes are either cancelled or are being conducted online.”

Monica is supporting international students through Global Hindu Association for Reform and Sustainable Societies (GHARS) a nationally registered not-for-profit that is based on the Vedic belief of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam (The world is one family).

“International tickets are exorbitant at the moment and some borders are closed, making it difficult to travel. The PM and his advisors should observe due diligence before making statements that drop like a bombshell resulting in further anxiety for these young people. International students inject over $30 billion a year into Australian economy, but when it’s time to pay back, the attitudes have changed,” lamented Monica.

A team of GHARS volunteers are offering free home cooked vegetarian meals to seniors, students and disadvantaged families. Various pick up points have been assigned across Melbourne in suburbs of Prahran, Derrimut, South Morang, Wyndham harbour and East Keilor where the meals can be collected. Free counselling services will also be made available to international students as the anxiety around COVID and its economic impact increases. Enquiries email team@ghars.org or call 0434 470 095.

Girish Patel: Migration Agent, Aussizz Group

The Aussizz Group are receiving over hundred calls a day and hundreds of messages to enquire about visa and PR application status, Girish Patel told Indian Link. There are parents stuck here that need to extend their visitors visa, students with no further stay restrictions, PR applicants in the process of applying for immigration and students that cannot attend universities.

Aussizz Group has created a special email ID in response to the overwhelming number announced the PM as the Coronavirus pandemic continues. He was reiterating that safety and well-being of Australians is his first priority, and fair enough.

That controversial statement from the Prime Minister, however, resulted in further anxiety for students already bogged down by COVID concerns. With of conerns: Covid19@aussizz.com. They have also created a COVID 19 Crisis FAQ booklet for onshore and off-shore applications

“We are helping with the enquiries even if they are not our clients,” claimed Girish.

His request is for everyone not to panic as a result of Scott Morrison’s comments. “The next six months will be tough for everyone in the education industry but there are many universities and community organisations that are willing to help. We are not alone. It is times like this that we need to help each other,” he said.

Mihir Shah: Echoes Global

Education

Mihir Shah believes that the statement from the Prime Minister could have been worded better as the impression it created was not the desired one. People should not expect the Government to bail them out, however, his statement will have long-term implications in the education industry.

“Student intake in Australia will plummet once the market is back to normal as other countries like UK and Canada will take advantage of this situation and the stand taken by the Australian Government,” said Mihir. “They will make a big issue of it and capitalise on the student intake that will move to them as a result.”

According to him there is much insecurity - even fear - amongst international students at the moment. Starting a dedicated helpline for them will help alleviate that stress to some extent. He also praised Australian universities that are extending fee payment schedules, offering credits for next semester or offering payment plans to help people to tide through these challenging times.

Mihir is offering free consultation to students affected by the COVID 19 restrictions. His email: Mihir@echoesglobaleducation.com

Sunny Duggal: Sant

Nirankari Mission

“There are around 100,000 Indians on temporary visas and only around 500 registered with the Indian Consulates so far. It is difficult to extend support if we don’t have details or contacts. We are asking people to register themselves ASAP so we can assist them,” said Sunny Duggal.

Mr Raj Kumar, Consul General of India in Melbourne, along with Sunny recently visited Indian student facilities around Melbourne to understand the issues being faced by them. They visited South eastern suburbs of Endeavour Hills Cranbourne, university fees paid in advance, flights to other countries disrupted, parents/supporters also in lockdowns in their home countries and job losses all round the situation is already grim for many.

The Indian communities in Melbourne and Sydney have rallied round to

Clayton, Doveton and Dandenong. Sunny also provided food and groceries to the students that were in need.

According to Sunny some students do not have food/groceries or means to buy more, many have visa status concerns and a few cannot afford their college fees.

“They are feeling demoralised as the situation around them worsens,” Sunny observed.“I request them not to despair even though it will not be easy; they should stay at home and be safe. My pledge to these people is that I will continue to help them with food and basic essentials as long as possible.”

Nirankari Mission Rowville, Global Organisation for Divinity based in Knox, Vidya Subramanium and Rowena Ann Hansen from the Filipino community are supporting Sunny in providing basics and treats to medical staff and health care workers in age care facilities and Maroondah Hospital.

AP Singh: Gurudwara

Sahib Blackburn

“Prior to COVID 19 many students used to visit the Gurudwara Sahib, eat the langar and take food away for the rest of the week,” AP Singh told Indian Link. “They may not have cooking facilities or have limited money or time. When the religious place shut down, temporarily, we continued to cook for those regular students. Soon the word of mouth spread and the demand increased. From 50 packs we went to 250, all of it cooked fresh.”

“Anyone can pick the food up from the Gurudwara, 5-7pm. We will continue to assist seniors, students and people in health sector and essential services if they need food. Our local council has approached us to list us in their directory and inform everyone of the service we are providing. The congregation (sangat) is requested to support us financially or by donating ingredients so we can continue our efforts to reach people when they need it most,” he said.

(Please text or call 0430595189 to provide your details and place your orders before 2 pm, 7 days a week.The packed vegetarian meal can be collected from the front gate of the Gurudwara.)

Vasan Srinivasan: Mental Health Foundation Australia

According to Vasan Srinivasan, Vice chair of the Mental Health Foundation Australia, announcements have been made at Federal level for students and visitors with concerns over their visa status to consult their support the affected students in various capacities from offering free Education and Visa consultations to cooking fresh meals for those in need or isolation. university community liaison officers and/ or apply online to get their applications assessed. “The Government will consider the unprecedented circumstances and offer alternatives like bridging/temporary visas for those affected until the pandemic settles down,” he told Indian Link. Meanwhile some universities have announced relief in the form of financial support schemes for international students experiencing hardships.

Indian Link spoke to some community representatives on their efforts to assist international students and others caught up in this turbulence.

Everyone we spoke to concurred that we all have a duty of care for these students who are away from their homes and insecure about their future due to circumstances beyond their control. We as a community need to help them financially as much as we can as that is the need of the hour.

Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette (GNFK)

It was Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette’s designated weekend to operate (it is active twice a month). Lucky Singh and her husband Balbir were up early, organising the grocery shop from Parklea Markets. The purpose-built professional kitchen in the backyard of their Glenwood home began its big cook after Sikh prayers as usual for all volunteers.

By midday the meal was ready and arranged on tables up the front. International students began to drop by to pick up their boxes. They’ve been doing so for some months now, but with recent COVID-related difficulties, the number of students has increased.

Also dropping by this Saturday, were people from old age homes and other seniors, including one from as far as Holsworthy. Volunteers began driving out to the homes of people who had called ahead and requested food. Meanwhile, the van was filled with biscuits, muffins, fresh fruit, juices, tea and coffee supplies, and Lucky and Balbir drove out to Blacktown and Westmead Hospitals where they have been serving food free to anyone who needs it, including hospital staff and families of patients who may have been waiting around for hours without a full meal. Also coming here to see the Singhs as usual, were more students – this time to pick up dry supplies such as rice, flour, dals, sugar, fresh fruit, long-life milk, toiletries.

Replenished with more boxes from home, the Singhs then drove out to the CBD’s Martin Place where they have been feeding the homeless for years now. Video clips from this seva (service) - sometimes with free gifts of blankets thrown in - have gone viral in Sydney’s Indian community. This time round though, it was different. Their usual diners had already been calling, because other charity services who have been helping them have ceased operations due to COVID scare. Having fed the waiting crowds and chatting with a few regulars, the Singhs began the drive back home as the clock pushed 11.00pm.

A message appeared on the Guru Nanak Free Kitchenette’s Facebook page. It was from an Indian person, quarantined in a city hotel, who could not eat the repeat cold dinner left outside his door. A friend from Perth had suggested to him to reach out to GNFK.

Do we have any boxes left, Balbir asked Lucky, pulling up on the side.

Yes, she replied.

Back they drove to the city. They organised with the police detail at the hotel to have three meals, fresh fruit and juice bottles delivered to the person in quarantine.

The policeman on duty opened the boxes for a check.

Observing his face as he did so, Lucky asked tentatively, would you like a box yourself? Yes please, he said.

The Singhs left their last 12 boxes for him and his mates.

In all, 500 boxes of Indian food were distributed that day by GNFK.

The home-based charity was launched by the Singhs in 2012, after they saw a similar operation in Canada.

“We functioned with no outside help save extended family and a Facebook page, feeding the homeless in Martin Place once in three months,” Lucky Singh told Indian Link, and added, laughing, “It did not go down well in the early days, with few takers for our home-cooked Indian vegetarian meals!”

Today they perform this seva every fortnight, and have added a raft of other services. They’ve also added a growing team of volunteers – not just from the local Indian community, but also from the mainstream, and from China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji. Local businesses such as Sharma’s Kitchen and Curry Masters have been donating supplies for years now, and monetary donations have begun to come in. Every time a Facebook post goes out after seva, the calls come in – when’s your next food drive?

“We are guided by the Sikh principles of Sarbat da bhala (May everyone prosper) and from what we saw our devout Sikh parents do all their lives,” Lucky said. “Thanks to all our volunteers - our cooks, our drivers - we do believe that everyone will prosper, and that it’s really a wonderful world out there.”

Little India Australia, Harris Park NSW

On any regular day, the Little India precinct in Harris Park is a beehive of activity as large crowds of Indians and Indophiles gather from across the city. They’re out there to replenish their weekly supplies at one of the many Indian spice outlets, to buy Indian outfits for an upcoming occasion, or to purchase an Indian gift of jewellery or similar artefact. The overwhelming reason though is to enjoy the Indian cuisine on offer at the 15 or so food outlets there, whether dosas or curries or Indian-Chinese.

These days though, there is an eerie quietness at Harris Park much like in the rest of the city. While take-aways and grocery shops continue to see their patrons drop in, the buzz has been replaced by a sense of despondency, especially as the student community struggle to come to terms with the new reality. These very young people who smilingly served others as they shopped or ate, have been stood down as their employers themselves see reduced business.

The Little India business community has come together in this hour of need to help international students by making available cooked meals and food rations.

According to Gurmeet Tuli, President of Little India, of the 15 restaurants in Harris Park nine have come on board in this charitable initiative. “Seven are active as they all have been allocated a day of the week, two are on stand by in case any restaurant cannot handle it. We are pleased to be able to help at this difficult time.”

He added, “The number of students reaching out has increased dramatically. We started with 25 takeaways, now we are providing 400 packs a day. We do have capacity to do more, and are considering introducing pre-bookings so it can all flow better. Our sincere request though, is that this is a service for genuine, needy students –and for others not to misuse this service as someone needy may miss out.”

Tuli confirmed that social distancing rules are being followed strictly as students gather at dinner time. “Of course, if the government announces new guidelines we will need to comply,” Tuli observed. “At that time, subject to rules, we may have to set up a distribution point. Our aim ultimately is to reach out to those in the Harris Park community that find themselves in a position of need.”

Hindu Council of Australia’s Hindu Benevolent Fund and Karma Kitchen

The Karma Kitchen of the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) has been serving freshly cooked vegetarian lunches to needy people in Sydney’s west since 2015. In recent days it has seen an uptick in activity as it reaches out to those facing hardships in COVID lockdown.

Jay Raman of the HCA told Indian Link that packs of cooked food as well as raw supplies are currently being sent out to students as well as seniors and families in lockdown who are unable to help themselves

“We’ve created an online support request form on our website hindcouncil.com.au so please reach out if you need help,” he said. “We’ve established two hubs so far to organise our services - in Harris Park and Blacktown - and are looking to open a third in Liverpool. Here we are currently packaging fresh meals as well as basic grocery.”

Their ‘care kits’ being assembled at the Harris Park Community Centre consist of supplies such as rice, lentils, flour and cooking oil, long life milk, cereals, tinned veggies, dry vegetables such as potatoes and onions, salt, sugar and spices, as well as some items of toiletries.

“With social distancing restrictions it is taking longer than usual but so far our dry groceries have gone out to some 120 students and isolated families, driven to them by volunteers,” he revealed.

Alternate accommodation is being organised for students and others who may need it such as stranded Indian tourists. “We’ve just sorted five cases, organising private homes as well as motels, and are considering the hiring of a hall if the need arises, with beddings etc provided by us.”

Another need that has been identified is counselling for students, for which outreach is being considered.

“We’re thankful to the Indian Consulate for the help it is providing at this hour,” Jay Raman noted. “We’ve also reached out to our long-time supporters and sponsors of the Diwali Mela. A renewed call has gone out for donations in cash or kind to the Hindu Benevolent Fund to help fund these activities.”

The Fund has so far provided financial help to those affected by disasters such as the Fiji cyclone, NSW drought and most recently, the bushfire crisis.