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As COVID-19 continues to impact individuals and communities, beneficiaries of charitable services aren’t as able to access the aid they are accustomed to relying on. Here we share an update on how MAITRI Charitable Trust in Bodhgaya, India, is managing the current reality of this crisis.
Distribution of aid at MAITRI Charitable Trust, May 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Ferranti.
Since 1989, MAITRI Charitable Trust has been operating as a beneficial example of Dharma in action. MAITRI is a registered charitable trust in India working to support the poor and disadvantaged in the province of Bihar, India.
As MAITRI has a hospital for leprosy and tuberculosis patients and an animal shelter on campus, they have been bound to continue their work to keep their beneficiaries fed and taken care of. This means they must pick up their vegetables by driving to the farmers along back pathways early in the morning, and on alternate days, collecting their grains, lentils, etc., from a different supplier by motorcycle on back roads negotiating the police.
The grounds maintenance staff are local and able to come to work so that basic services can be ensured. This is more difficult for the office staff, who live father away and have had to abide by different pass-through schedules.
What has been seriously affected by the pandemic is the field work and their clinics, as only a few patients have dropped in to get their monthly rations or treatment.
Beneficiaries receiving care from MAITRI Charitable Project, May 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Ferranti.
However, recently the paramedics have ventured out early in the morning for home delivery of treatment for current patients, particularly milk powder for malnourished babies.
MAITRI has been providing all the staff with face masks and daily Vitamin C to ensure safety.
MAITRI Director Adriana Ferranti gave the following recent report from Bodhgaya:
Mothers and babies receiving care from MAITRI, May 2020. Photo courtesy of Adriana Ferranti.
On May 7, the day of Buddha Purnima (Lord Buddha’s birthday), when great celebrations usually go on in the scorching heat for three days as pilgrims flock to Bodhgaya from all over India and the world, the Mahabodhi Temple remained closed to the public and only a few selected monks could offer prayers. The disappointment for the failed procession with patients and students and the 24 hour health camp was quickly replaced with a MAITRI-style celebration: the resumption of our field clinics, albeit in a humbler mode as the paramedics had to go by motorcycle and the clinic had to be over by 9 a.m. Thirty-six very happy patients attended the clinic and could finally resume treatment after one and a half months!
While this was going on in the field at 6:30 a.m. patients started arriving at MAITRI for their rations, both TB patients and mother-child care patients. They kept coming until 9:30 a.m., as the curfew would restart at 10 a.m. and enjoyed the recitation of mantras and sutras and the unusually balmy weather. Indeed, what a beautiful way to celebrate Buddha Purnima!
On May 9 the clinic had an attendance of 18 mothers-to-be and small children who had not received their treatment at home from the paramedical worker. Our patients still rely on us.
FPMT Charitable Projects will continue updating you on how social service projects around the world are navigating these challenging times.
Learn more about MAITRI Charitable Trust: www.maitri-bodhgaya.org/home