As the winters started to set in Delhi and the cold waves started to blow, the first thoughts which came to the mind of the devotees of the Delhi Ashram, was not to take out the warm clothes and cover themselves adequately, but that how those people, who live without even a shelter, leave alone some warm clothes would bear this cruel, bone chilling and unbearable cold season. This thought paved the way for the Blanket distribution program of the Delhi Ashram.

The program first of all required new blankets to be purchased for which funds were required. This was solved by the circulation of a simple appeal for funds. Within a few days, funds started pouring in. Soon, enough funds were collected to give shape to the initiation of the blanket distribution program. The next step was to purchase the blankets. Some Ashram devotees came up with an idea to purchase it from Panipat, a wholesale hub of blankets, just for the reason, that purchase could be done at relatively low prices, thus enabling us buy more of them, for distribution among more number of people. Some devotees volunteered to go to Panipat and bought the blankets for distribution. The third step was very crucial, which involved selecting the areas where the blankets were to be distributed. True, there are many who require the blankets, but there are some who require it more than others. We had to be very careful in selecting the people who require it the most. For this, devotees went around and met the Pradhans of the various slum clusters in and around Vasant Kunj, the area where the Delhi ashram is located. Having done this part and prepared an extensive list, we were now ready for the all important thing – the distribution itself.

The date for the distribution was set on 12 December 2010. Three areas were selected for the distribution. The first was the Ashram itself, the second was a slum cluster near Block B-5 and B-6 in Vasant kunj. And the last venue was the slum cluster in Block C-8 of Vasant Kunj.
The function started in the ashram at around 1:00 P.M. The blankets were distributed to the families of the children who regularly come to the ashram for their studies. These children reside in the slums nearby the Ashram. The blankets were given away by Mr. Amanpreet Marwah, resident of Springhouse farms situated near the ashram. It was excellently organized by the school teachers of Amrita Vidyalayam and attended by a large number of devotees. The distribution got over in about half an hour, after which the Annadanam was served to all present.

Thereafter devotees proceeded to the second site, the slum cluster near block B-5 and B-6. Here the entire responsibility of organizing the distribution was taken up by the Pradhan of the area. Our Guest- of- honour here was Mr. D.S.Yadav, the RWA president of the B-5 and B-6 residential colony.

Thereafter the entourage proceeded to slum cluster near block C-8. This slum is predominantly lived in by persons belonging to the minority community. The Pradhan of the slum organized the distribution on the basis of the category of the ration cards available with the residents, which in turn was based on the income strata of the resident.

All through these functions, one thing that everyone took note was the happy faces around and the feeling of happiness and relief that was evident in the eyes of the people who received the gift. Their happy and smiling faces said much more than any word of appreciation could have conveyed. It is this contented look which made our efforts worthwhile.

Another beautiful thing was how the weather, which was so depressingly cold at the start in the morning, turned sunny and warm by the time we finished distributing all the blankets.

After the distribution, one thing what everybody agreed on was that this was just a start and much more needed to be done. And hence the decision was taken to organize a second distribution program as early as possible. We are positively looking forward to it.

– Abhilash