The Gem and Jewellery National Relief Foundation (GJNRF) and Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) donated two vans to Roti Bank at a function organised in the BDB complex yesterday. The NGO is one of Mumbai's largest non-profits in the city working to bridge the gap between those who suffer from hunger and those with excess food.

The vans were handed over to D Sivanandhan, former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, now Mentor at Roti Bank by Sanjay Kothari, Chairman, GJNRF and Anoop Mehta, President, BDB in the presence of Mehul Shah, Vice President, BDB, Ashok Gajera, Regional Convener, West of GJEPC, Kirit Bhansali, Ramnikbhai Shah and other dignitaries.

Roti Bank was launched about one and a half years ago and already feeds over 3,000 people across the city of Mumbai each day. It has seven vans which collect excess food from weddings, cafeterias, housing societies, etc and deliver it to thousands of hungry people who live in slums or on footpaths. The NGO also provides daily meals for children at Drona Foundation, Dharavi and relatives of cancer patients at Tata Memorial Hospital, and of patients at KEM hospital.

Expressing his gratitude, D. Sivanandhan said that the two new vans would add to the fleet operated by Roti Bank and enable them to provide better service. He stressed that the organisation always ensures that the food it collects is fresh and as a policy it does not take food that remains overnight or is otherwise leftover.

One behalf of GJNRF, Sanjay Kothari, "We are obliged to do our small bit on behalf of the gems and jewellery fraternity. We acknowledge the work done by Shri D Sivanandhan who is thriving to make our city free from food hunger and make food available to the poor and needy people.”

He also announced that BDB, with the help of Roti Bank, will offer one day meal free to all the needy people in the city.

Pic caption: Sanjay Kothari (on r) and Ramnikbhai Shah (on l) seen with D. Sivanandhan of Roti Bank with one of the vans donated by GJNRF and BDB to the NGO