DON BOSCO RELIEF SERVICE (DBRS), under SURABI, INM – CHENNAI PROVINCE, Project Office, is in Response to COVID -19 Lockdown in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India, directly under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Alphonse Arulanandam SDB, the Director, with the guidance of Rev. Fr. Xavier Packia SDB, the Provincial Economer, Fr. Edwin Vasanthan SDB, the Provincial Councillor and Rev. Fr. Francis Bosco SDB, the INM Migrant Desk Director. In Chennai alone
about 3000 families have been isolated and monitored. As per the statistics of the Central Government – Chennai, Erode and Kanchipuram districts have been identified as high-risk zones and the district borders are closed. Migrant labourers from the Northern States of India working at the construction sites and the Irular families working at the Brick kilns in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur districts have become the worst victims of this complete Lockdown. These workers depend on their daily wages and unable to store food items for a week or two. In Tamil Nadu, a number of labourers who were trying to catch a homeward-bound train March 22, were lodged at various community centres in Chennai.

DBRS provides daily relief materials for these unfortunate people. The food package includes Rice, cereals, oil, jaggery, wheat flour, fruits, vegetables, and masala items. Hygiene kit will include: Essential supplies such as soap, face masks, dettol and coconut oil and sanitary pads. Special package for children below two years include baby food, biscuits and snacks. Each food package should meet the requirements of the families for 10 days. Such a provision will continue till the end of the Lockdown period, 14th April 2020, as of now.