KOCHI: For the hungry who were on the look out for a hotel to fill their hungry stomachs on Tuesday as hartal was declared in the district in the name of the Mullaperiyar issue, the small autorickshaw distributing kanji and pickle at the Kaloor bus stand was a huge relief.The autorickshaw, taken on rent by Theruvora Pravarthaka Association general secretary Murugan was an initiative to feed the hungry as all hotels in Ernakulam district remained closed.“We knew that there would be hundreds in the district who would be hungry on hartal day, especially the poor who work as labourers in construction companies. The initiative is to help the neglected few even as political parties are staging protests and hartals for their own gains. The Mullaperiyar dam is an immediate threat, but the woes of the hungry and the poor are more important for us,” Murugan said.The purpose of their mission was imprinted in three words: “Hartal Jayikkatte, Vishappadangatte (Let the hartal succeed, but let hunger recede). According to Moncy Joseph, who was helping make the initiative a grand success, those who came to have food were mostly Tamil people.“Two states are at loggerheads with each other over the Mullaperiyar dam but the issue is affecting people drastically in more ways than one. Even as hartals are being staged and fear is riding high in people’s mind about the situation Kerala is in, we are telling the public that there is hope and peace.”The message being conveyed was that though the issues facing the people of Kerala are severe, it would always treat people and those from outside states with respect. The team also distributed food at Palarivattom bus stop, railway stations, KSRTC bus stand and Menaka.
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