Pune: The coronavirus lockdown has created the same problems everywhere, be it India or the United States of America. The nostalgia to be living away from home, worrying over the future, supplies of groceries and medicines, job losses and the economy going through a recession.
The Marathi speaking families stranded in the United States who are distressed due to the current situation worldwide in some of the other way were provided help through a helpline started by Burhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) of North America.
The BMM started helping people a month ago, apart from helping via a helpline they have also helped 50 people in person.
BMM of North America started a Marathi language helpline to help Marathi community during the coronavirus lockdown. An umbrella organisation of several Maharashtra community organisations in the USA, BMM has been active in providing help.
"For around one month now, we have been providing support to the Maharashtra community in the USA through our helpline. Our executive team of eight people has been handling the helpline and reaching out to the organisations in respective areas to resolve the problems of people," Chicago resident and BMM President Vidya Joshi told Sakal Times.
Along with helping people who need refills of medications or groceries, the helpline is also giving guidance on legal, financial, visa-related issues of people.
"There are over five lac Marathi people across the USA. In these tough times, away from their families, we all are trying to support and motivate each other," Joshi expressed.
The helpline is also sought after by those needing the guidance of counsellors too.
"There is a lot of uncertainty about what will happen to jobs after the lockdown is over. Everyone is stranded in homes; there is a lot of time on hand to worry about the future. This is giving way to increased tension and depression among people. People are scared," she added.
The helplines and the teams associated are also helping those in the community who have been tested positive for COVID-19, and their families.
"We are delivering groceries and medicines to the homes of these people, who have been quarantined due to the disease. They also need emotional support, and we try to talk to them, whenever they need," Joshi said.
Homoeopathic doctor by profession, Joshi is presently working as a Practice Manager for clinics in Chicago. Residing in the USA since 2007, she is also the leader of the Indian Taskforce, which is also providing similar support to Indians in the USA.
