Tura, June 5: The Voluntary Association for Social Upliftment (VASU), an NGO that primarily works in South West Garo Hills (SWGH) District of Meghalaya, has been silently providing relief materials to the needy in South West Garo Hills ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the State. The NGO is one of the many social organizations and individuals that have come forward in the service of humanity in the current time of COVID-19 pandemic where this help is invaluable.

On Saturday, VASU distributed rations to 300 needy families in the areas of in Ghasura, Purasingha, Kumligaon, Samatigaon, Murikhati, Morkona and Mahendraganj in South West Garo Hills. Besides ration VASU also distributed basic necessities such as sanitary napkins, soap, Zinc tablets among others.

VASU representatives said, “It is important to understand the misery of the communities living in those remote areas; hence, it was a call to action for us to work for the upliftment of these areas. We have worked in South West Garo Hills even during the peak of militant activities.”

VASU was registered as an NGO in 2003 with the primary objective of providing livelihood opportunities through skill development amongst rural people. Over the years, the NGO has grown substantially in many ways.

VASU has a Training & Production centre in apparel making in Mahendraganj and a Handloom Weaving Centre in Samatigaon in South West Garo Hills to enhance livelihood opportunities for the poor people.

VASU also has a Nutrition programme for the women working in their centre at Mahendraganj and Samatigaon. A balanced midday meal to the women along with multivitamins and folic acid are provided at the centres.