World leaders pledge $8 billion to fight COVID-19
World leaders and organisations pledged on Monday (May 4) $8 billion to fund research, manufacture and distribution of a possible vaccine and treatments for COVID-19, but the United States refused to contribute to the global effort. Soraya Ali report
.The world’s biggest lockdown forced 122 million people out of jobs in India last month, according to estimates from a leading private sector think tank.
“This is not just a mind-boggling number,” Mahesh Vyas, chief executive of CMIE wrote in the Business Standard newspaper. “It is a human tragedy because these are perhaps, the most vulnerable parts of society.”
The estimates of India’s job losses are more than four times the 30 million Americans who’ve filed for unemployment benefits over six weeks. The data could get worse in India with the lockdown extended in many areas, CMIE warned.
“Initially, a lockdown only hurts the most vulnerable labor that is informally employed in unorganised sectors,” Vyas said. “Gradually, it starts hitting the more secure jobs. Startups have announced lay-offs and industry associations have warned of job losses.”
More people are also looking for a job, with the participation rate rising to 36.2% in the week ended May 3 from 35.4% previously, Vyas said.
The government doesn’t publish regular jobless data, with investors relying on surveys from CMIE to give them guidance on the labor market. The last official figures from the government, released in May 2019, estimated the unemployment rate at 6.1% in the year to June 2018.
Chhabi
He is a driver who drives a car and manages his
family. After the government declared lockdown,
the owner said that he cannot pay him because
he is not driving even did not gave two month of
salary. He is a Christian and whole family was in
hunger. He had no savings. Whatever they had
they ate and only another one days food was left
and during that time we distributed groceries to
him. He was very excited that he carried the rice
bag on his head and smiling.
He gave thanks to God and the people
who have sponsored this.
- Rasanta
He is a Catholic Christian very poor living
with three children. He drives a rented
auto to run his family. I have gone by his
auto few times and knew him. During this
lockdown time when I asked what he is
doing, he replied saying that wanted to go
to his village because there is no way to
survive here in Bhubaneswar.
So he came and we gave rice bag and shared with him
about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was much
happy and said thank you. All glory to
Jesus Christ.
- Kalucharan
He belongs to untouchable people group.
He is taking dustbin from house to house.
He is nonbeliever and even in this time of
lockdown he comes to take the dust.
When we gave food bag to him he was in
tears saying no other people even touches
us but you are handing out to us food bag.
He said you are great people but we told
him we are not great but one who lives in
us is greater than the one who lives in the
world. He asked who is that so we said He
is Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World.
We used this an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He listened and went
back with very joyful heart giving thanks us and who has provided the provisions.
- Sulochana
She belongs to untouchable people
group. She is a street sweeper. She is
Hindu lady who has lost her husband
and living with her four children.
Normally it is very hard for her to
survive in the other time. But in this
lockdown she was thinking of suicide
leaving her four children in her
brother’s house due to lack of food in
her house. She does not want to see
her children suffering in hungry.
But when she heard that we are helping in food bag, she walked about 20 kilometres to get. We gave her food bag and she said
you saved me and my children’s life. Now we take that time to share with her that we
have a good heavenly father who cares for them. She heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
She was very much thankful and gave thanks to Jesus Christ for saving her life by
providing food. Thank you Jesus Christ.
- Malati
She is Malati, a very strong Hindu lady. She
never use to take anything from anybody
though she is very poor. But as the
lockdown increases, the day before we
gave her food bag this was happened. She
saw a dream that someone is giving
something to her because they have
nothing left to eat the next morning with
her husband and small child. So the next
day very morning when we asked her if
she can take the food bag she was crying
saying this is what I saw in the dream, you
are like God who came on time and giving
us food.
She said us as God but we told her
we are not God but we are human being
like you but we serve a God who has
enabled us through His mighty servants to provide provisions people like you. We told
her about Jesus Christ, so with great excitement she received the bag and went home
happily giving thanks to God.
- Bhama
She is an aged Hindu lady living alone and
no one is helping her. She used to go
house to house to do massage for small
children and get money for her living. But
due to this lockdown she is unable to go
anywhere and when we gave her food bag
she was very very happy and was crying
saying, no body took care of me, not even
my own son and daughter-in-law. But I do
not know you but you are helping me this
much food bag. how?
So we told her that we serve a true God who has commanded us to serve the poor and needy. So we are
serving you. We shared with her about Jesus the eternal Hope.
Jesus cares for her and she was very happy and thanks us and people who has supported.
