Jayanta Borah, 36, who lives in Biswanath district in Assam, is a businessman by profession, but a social worker by choice. He owns a tea factory, but these days you can see him driving a mini truck across the rural areas in Behali in Sonitpur district of Assam. He distributes essentials items to 10,000 families living in these areas.
He has been distributing pulses, wheat, rice, potatoes, salt and even soaps for free. These villagers thank him by folding their hands and he makes sure to reciprocate to their gesture of gratitude with his love, and of course, the stuff that he distributes.
“I am trying to help as many people as I could,” said Jayanta, who has, so far, spent more than Rs 10 lakh on these 10,000 families since the lockdown.
After the nationwide lockdown was announced to beat the novel coronavirus, many daily wage earners didn’t have any work and hence didn’t have any income to buy even the basic things.
The Assam government was quick enough to announce a relief package and provided a one-time assistance of Rs 1,000 to construction workers and those who are not covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Around 58 lakh families under the NFSA were liable to get free rice.
However, as per Jayanta, this help is not reaching the poor. So, to provide relief to the poor and the needy families of the state during the lockdown, he volunteered to help as many people as he could. “Around 90% of the families that I have met so far didn’t have ration to cook. They live in a very dismal state,” said Jayanta.
Most of these people work in the Monabarie Tea Estate, which is Asia’s Largest Tea Estate in Biswanath district of Assam.
“When I started distributing ration kits to those working in my tea estate, other workers too started coming with their bags. I couldn’t say no to them,” said Jayanta, who has employed around 500 workers in the tea factory that he owns. Another 50 people work in that hotel that he runs.
The tea industry in the country, which was already suffering losses due to low prices and increasing cost of production, has been severely affected due to the coronavirus outbreak. With a production of 701 million kg, Assam is the largest tea producing state in the country. According to the Tea Board, 18 per cent of the tea gardens in India are in a deplorable state.
Jayanta has also incurred losses, but that hasn’t stopped him from helping the 500 workers working with him. “My tea factory is of no use if I won’t have these workers. Whom will I work with then?” asked Jayanta.
When many firms are forced to sack their employees or cut their salaries due to the lockdown, Jayanta is out on the field providing help to his workers. The only challenge he is facing these days is that he is unable to procure ration as supplies remain disrupted amid the lockdown.
There have been instances when people have criticised those volunteers who are helping people but also put their pictures on social media that are liked by hundreds of people. Also, the beneficiaries feel uncomfortable when they are being clicked. But Jayanta is unfazed by this criticism. “Even if we click photos or record videos, people don’t mind that. What matters to them is that they get food to eat. Those who are criticising are the ones who are not doing anything to help others. They sit in their comfortable homes and keep themselves busy on social media and criticise others who volunteer to help,” said Jayanta.
