Dear Lok Manch Partner, leaders, communities, colleagues, staff, friends, well-wishers, family members and countrymen, women and children,
As our world – our country is going through tough times especially in the area of health (Coronavirus), our hearts, thoughts; prayers go out to you to express our solidarity with you, your family, your friends, neighbours, your colleagues.
We wish you the best of Health, Happiness!
It is shocking to see so much of suffering and confusion etc. around! And in the midst of such a situation, Pope Francis is trying his best to give Leadership filled with Hope to the entire world!
At this juncture, one wonders, “What is development if we don’t have adequate measures to face such situations and help all those in need”?
Someone has said, “The ‘hunger’ virus kills about 8,000 children a day and the vaccine for it exists; it is called “food”, but you won’t hear that in the media, do you know why?? Because “hunger” doesn’t kill the rich”!
Though we human beings make artificial discriminations/divisions on the basis of caste, class, creed, colour, cultures, customs, languages, regions, countries, the haves and the have-nots, the Dalits and non-Dalits, the tribals and the non-tribals -Adivasis, the poor and the rich, this COVID-19 doesn’t seem to have made any such discrimination! All the rich and the poor seem to be suffering alike! Then why make such artificial discriminations/divisions and kill one another?
You could try and join hands with others to pray for the healing of our world. You could invoke any God, gods, goddesses or any Almighty whom you believe in!
What could we do at this juncture?
(1) Don’t be over frightened, but be cautious and take all precautions
(2) Make cleanliness as part of your life, the life of your family and friends, the life around in the surroundings
(3) Wash your hands with soap well and avoid shaking hands and close contacts with anyone especially if someone is suspected to be suffering from this virus
(4) When you come to know that such suspected cases are found in your area, immediately contact the health authorities and get them medical treatment and also to be kept in isolation
(5) Avoid crowding – you could suspend training or meetings in groups at least till the end of this month
(6) Wait and watch and do what is best that is needed in a particular situation
Besides this, you could also spend some time to find apt answers for the following questions:
(a) What is Lok Manch for me and my people?
(b) Why am I involved in Lok Manch and how?
(c) What do the leaders and the communities expect Lok Manch to be/to do for the betterment of our world?
(d) How could I, my organization, my leaders and communities build up Lok Manch and own it up and make it sustainable?
(e) Do I really believe deep in my heart that Lok Manch could be one of the best ways of capacitating people to live by values and to bring a change in our Country? If yes, then what are you doing about it?
I suggest that you spend some quality time in trying to answer these questions from your heart and when you all meet next for review meetings or evaluation meetings etc. you could get share your reflections with one another to make Lok Manch function better.
With best wishes,
From,
The Lok Manch National Facilitating Team, New Delhi.
