Indian diaspora in Oz bands on social media to help desis in times of Covid-19

MELBOURNE: For desis in Australia grappling with challenges during the Covid-19 crisis, help is often just a click away. Fresh groups have cropped up on Facebook and WhatsApp and older ones are witnessing a surge in offers of assistance as the Indian diaspora is leveraging social media to drive community efforts for those in need.
Perth-based business owner Narinder Kaur Sandhu used Facebook to raise AUD 30,000 for a stranger's cancer treatment. Kanwaljeet Singh’s family was in dire straits after his wife lost her job as a beautician due to Covid-19 crisis. “I heard about their predicament from a friend in April and knew I had to help them. Donations came from across the country, it has helped the family tide through,” she told TOI.
For others, especially students, who have lost jobs in times of Covid-19 lockdown, there are forums that offer help. Earlier this month, Perth-based Navpreet Sandhu started ‘Job Forum for International students in Australia’ to connect students with employers.
Then there are efforts to feed the hungry, some of which have even caught the eye of the local administration. Celebrity chef Kuldip Sandhu recently received recognition from the Adelaide administration after he pumped in all the money he earned from catering work towards feeding people.
Adelaide-based bus drivers Kapil Rajpal and Daljeet Bakshi are also running a similar initiative. While Rajpal recently raised AUD 2,000 through a WhatsApp group, Bakshi has been coordinating between those providing free grocery kits and cooked meals and those in need.
Various groups are providing free grocery kits, cooked meals to those in need
“People donated items like rice, flour and lentils which we divided into grocery kits for distribution. With the help of Australian Sikh Support, we managed to serve over 2,600 people in two months,” said Bakshi. The duo are helping anyone hit hard by the pandemic, not just members of the Indian community.
One of the beneficiaries, 30-year-old student Kashmini Nimesha from Sri Lanka, had lost her job after the coronavirus outbreak. “We received cooked meals and grocery kits. I decided to join as a volunteer and help others after that,” Nimesha told TOI.
Restaurateur Gurinder Bajwa has also been serving about 120 students a day. “Most days, we cook about 60 kg of rice and tea and leave it for people to take away. As a student, I had struggled in a foreign country so I could relate to that and wanted to do something for them.”
WhatsApp support groups to share advice and tips for those looking to travel back to Australia from India or trying to travel home have also come up. ‘India 2 Australia’ started by Melbourne-based Charan Bajaj is supporting those who are travelling to Australia from India. “Our group has 250 members. When someone knows anyone who has to serve quarantine here, members provide helpful information so they can have a better experience. One can find advice on anything — from how to get hot milk for a baby while in quarantine to information on Covid-19 test centres and repatriation flights,” Bajaj said.