As a severe cold wave tightens its grip on North India, thousands of homeless individuals and daily wage earners are facing life-threatening conditions on the streets.
With night temperatures dropping sharply and cold weather alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department, timely humanitarian intervention has become critical.
Amid this harsh winter, Delhi-based NGO Wishes and Blessings has intensified its annual winter relief campaign, stepping in to protect society’s most vulnerable from the biting cold.
‘6 Weeks of Warmth’
Launched on December 15, the NGO’s annual winter relief drive, “6 Weeks of Warmth,” is aimed at providing essential winter gear to those living on pavements, under flyovers, and in makeshift roadside shelters. Through extensive field visits and on-ground needs assessments, the organisation identified high-risk areas requiring immediate intervention.
Under this initiative, Wishes and Blessings is distributing blankets, sweaters, shawls (lohis), caps, socks, and other protective clothing across Delhi, with parallel distributions underway in Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Survival and Suffering
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Dr. Geetanjali Chopra, Founder and President of Wishes and Blessings, emphasised the life-saving impact of winter relief.
“In these extreme conditions, timely intervention is the difference between survival and suffering. For someone shivering on the streets, a blanket or sweater is not a luxury, it is essential for life and health,” she said.
Stories from the Ground
Beyond statistics, the relief drive has delivered moments of hope and dignity. During one distribution near Noida’s Sector 101, a woman shared that she has been wearing the shawl she received every day, especially at night, to stay warm.
At another drive along Delhi’s Yamuna riverbank, a young girl waiting anxiously with her family kept asking volunteers if she would also receive a sweater. When she finally did, she described the day as “the best day,” a moment that stayed with the team long after the distribution ended.
Elderly beneficiaries were seen immediately wearing the caps and sweaters they received, offering blessings and gratitude in return. Volunteers noted that many beneficiaries now recognise the NGO’s relief vehicles and gather in anticipation whenever a distribution drive is underway.
Thousands Reached
So far this winter, Wishes and Blessings has distributed:
- 500 blankets
- 500 sweaters
- 600 caps
- 600 pairs of socks
- 500 shawls/lohis
With temperatures expected to drop further, additional distributions are planned in the coming weeks. The NGO has been conducting winter relief drives consistently for the past 11 years, strengthening its presence and trust among vulnerable communities.
Inclusive Society
For over ten years, Wishes and Blessings has worked towards creating an inclusive society where equal opportunities are accessible to all.
Its flagship initiatives, Open Pathshala, The Daily Meals Programme, The Street to School Programme, The Sponsor a Child Programme, SAHAS (Skill Development), WB Rasoi (Community Kitchen), and its network of old-age homes Mann Ka Tilak, have transformed lives across India.
To date, the organisation has served over one crore meals, educated more than 2,300 children, and positively impacted nearly 90 lakh lives across eight states, continuing its mission of compassion, dignity, and grassroots change, even in the coldest of times.
The Logical Indian’s perspective
Initiatives like those led by Wishes and Blessings reaffirm the power of compassion-driven action at a time when extreme weather disproportionately affects the poorest.
In moments of crisis, it is grassroots organisations that often step in where systems fall short, translating empathy into immediate, life-saving support.
By consistently reaching the streets year after year, listening to real needs, and restoring dignity through simple acts of care, the NGO exemplifies the spirit of responsible citizenship and humane intervention that The Logical Indian seeks to highlight, stories that remind us that change begins with showing up for those most invisible.
