Today the World is experiencing an extraordinary time with COVID 19 spreading like wild fire across the globe. To date without counting the economic losses, the virus has had a devastating impact resulting in nearly 200k deaths and still counting. Australia to date has seen over 6,700 cases with about 80 deaths so far. Whilst the Australian government is at the forefront of controlling this dreaded virus – thanks to efforts of all agencies and a very cooperative community we have now flattened the curve.

The impact of COVID -19 is devastating. Businesses are badly affected and consequently we are experiencing a large number of people losing their jobs. The mental state of many people is something we cannot measure so far. The international student community studying here in Australia has gone from bad to worse, particularly the student community from the Indian subcontinent who are really struggling to pay for their rent and food. There are a large number of students who are experiencing deep financial and mental stress.

To address this serious situation, the Little India Harris Park Business Association Inc (LIHPBA) joined hands with the Indian Support Centre Inc (ISC) based in Wentworthville to provide Free food packs to those in need as a result of COVID 19.

LIHPBA and ISC has put up a distribution centre at 97 Wigram Street, Harris Park to provide logistical support to enable this initiative – thanks to Sanjay Deshwal’s company Australian Visa Migration Consultancy Services (AVMCS) for providing space. Over the past three weeks Sanjay Deshwal and Nitin Setia (the owner of Ginger Indian restaurant) both as Board members of LIHPBA approached various businesses and secured a large quantity of food items such as Wheat flour, Rice, Sugar, Dals, Ghee, Salt etc. LIHPBA and ISC expresses its sincere gratitude to all the sponsors of various items – in particular – Sharma’s Kitchen, Radhe Wholesale and Retail, Ginger Indian Restaurant, Haveli Indian Restaurant, Badshah trading, Pathan Supermarket, India Bazaar, Shree Dhaba, AVMCS and IPP Digital.

The Indian Support Center (ISC), provided the complete backend support – creating attractive flyer, backend Google registration forms, securing and managing and handling telephone calls from support seekers.

The program was launched on Friday 17th April 2020 at 5 pm by Ms Julia Finn MP, Member for Granville Shadow Minister for Consumer Protection and Carers. Clr. Moninder Singh from Blacktown Council. Other community leaders including Mr Srinivas Pillamarri, President of UIA. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Julia Finn spoke about the devastation caused by COVID

19 and appreciated the support provided by LIHPBA and ISC for the victims of COVID 19. Subba Rao Varigonda, Chairman of LIHPBA, while speaking on this occasion thanked the Consulate General of India for its generosity and support.

The gathering followed all basic rules of protection against COVID 19 by keeping Safe distance, wearing of masks and observing other formalities of cleanliness during the launch program.

LIHPBA and ISC thanks in particular Sanjay Deshwal – Director AVMCS, Mr Nitin Setia Owner Ginger Indian Restaurant, Prajay Perambakkam, General Manager of ISC and scores of volunteers for all their hard word leading to a successful launch of the LIHPBA-ISC COVID 19 Victim support program.

The main objective of LIHPBA is to support businesses in Harris Park and make Harris Park as the tourist destination and “the Little India of Sydney”. For more information about LIHPBA, please visit www.littleindia.org.au or email us support@littleindia.org.au