The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), in partnership with the Sourav Ganguly Foundation, has initiated a significant food relief effort to assist struggling families in the area in the wake of the devastating floods and landslides that have impacted a significant portion of North Bengal.

More than 2,500 impacted households in and around Siliguri are receiving wholesome cooked meals every day as part of this program, which will provide food security for people affected by the disaster for at least ten days.

The project represents a new phase in Sourav Ganguly and ISKCON’s ongoing humanitarian collaboration. Similar to this, the Sourav Ganguly Foundation and ISKCON worked together to provide lakhs of meals to underprivileged families throughout Kolkata during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. This act motivated many to provide selfless service during that trying period.

Radharamn Das, Vice-President of ISKCON Kolkata, said, “We express our sincere gratitude to Shri Sourav Ganguly and his foundation for supporting ISKCON in its efforts to assist the Bengali people once more. Our collaboration provided food and hope to thousands of households in Kolkata during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are together once more today to make sure that no one goes hungry in the face of North Bengal’s dire flood scenario. This embodies Bengal’s real ethos, where cooperation and compassion cut through all boundaries”.

Sourav Ganguly, Founder of the Sourav Ganguly Foundation, said, “It is our responsibility to support the people of North Bengal in every way we can at this time. Seeing so many lives destroyed by landslides and floods is devastating. Numerous lives are still impacted by natural disasters; thus, now is the moment for us to band together and help those in need. Whether in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, earthquakes, or conflict zones, ISKCON’s unwavering humanitarian efforts have always been something I have respected. Their steadfast dedication to providing for the hungry and giving selflessly to humanity is incredibly motivating. My foundation is honored to be working with ISKCON on this excellent cause once more”.

In order to ensure prompt delivery to the most vulnerable segments of society, ISKCON volunteers have been working nonstop to prepare and distribute fresh meals from their Siliguri center and mobile kitchens throughout the impacted districts.

Through these programs, ISKCON carries on its long-standing “Food for Life” goal, which aims to eradicate hunger worldwide, particularly during emergencies, and is motivated by the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.

Priyanka Dutta