Background
Under a busy flyover, a group of families — migrant labourers, rickshaw pullers, elderly people and small children — had made their home on the pavement. They had little more than plastic sheets and thin shawls.
The challenge
When the temperature dropped sharply during a cold wave, the elderly and the children were at serious risk. Many were coughing and feverish, and some had not slept properly for days because of the cold.
What we did
Our volunteers carried out a series of late-night drives, handing out thick blankets personally to each person. Children received sweaters, caps and socks, and the elderly received shawls. We combined the drives with hot meals and connected the families to the nearest night shelter.
The outcome
Every family received warm bedding for the season, and the most vulnerable members moved to a night shelter on the coldest nights. The drive also brought in new volunteers from the neighbourhood, who now help us every winter.
Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
