Women join hands to provide nutrition kits, sanitary napkins

Kolkata: Women have joined hands to fulfil the needs of mothers in distress and girls by providing nutrition kits including sanitary napkins amid three-week-long lockdown.

Darshok Tumi, an indigenous body formed by a group of women, has made 500 kits containing four essential items catering specifically towards the needs of women and mothers keeping in mind their children as well.

"We are neither an NGO nor a profit-making organisation. All of this was started out of concern for women, especially those from working-class backgrounds, who tend to be most affected during this lockdown," said Joyee Roy, founder of Darshok Tumi.

Each kit contains 500gm pack of Sattu/Chhatu, a soap, two sachets of ORS and four packets of sanitary napkins (each packet consisting of eight pads).

"We initially planned on giving Powder Milk but it soon came to our notice how powder milk has little nutrition whereas sattu is higher in Nutrition, is good for both mother and child and does not even require cooking gas or fuel to be prepared," pointed out Roy.

She reiterated that Darshok Tumi members are working on the field and whoever wants any help from them should go 'Darshok Tumi's' Facebook page to get the contact details and delivery process of the kits.

"We have identified some women-centric distress areas in South Kolkata and other places such as Park Circus, Kidderpore. Our volunteers and members along with women organisation are helping them," said Roy.

"Presently, we are trying to arrange ration for 490 families in Kidderpore area. Through social media (Facebook and Whatsapp), we want to inform people from different walks of life who want to feed the poor," said Shagufta Hanaphie, member of Best Friendz Society.