Kent's equality chief says there are lessons to be learnt from the latest Covid-19 outbreak in India as local charities and faith organisations step up to lend their support.

Gravesend may be more than four thousand miles away from the Asian subcontinent but for its sizeable Sikh community the issue is close to home.

Gurvinder Sandher discussed the Covid-19 situation in India

With India fast becoming the world's new Covid-19 epicentre families there are being left to ferry their sick loved ones between hospitals in search of treatment.

The latest outbreak is being reported as so severe that hospitals are running out of life-saving oxygen and many critically-ill patients have been refused entry due to a lack of beds.

"It's obviously very traumatic, especially when people are losing loved ones or people are ill in India at the moment," says Gurvinder Sandher, chief executive of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council which works towards the reduction of inequality, the elimination of discrimination and to promote good relations between diverse communities.

"It is a difficult situation for those living in India and it is also a difficult situation for those living in the Indian diaspora here in Kent."

Gravesend has a significant Sikh population with more than 15,000 people estimated to represent over 15% of the town's population.

Many residents still have relatives living in the Punjab and other parts of India currently caught up in the latest Covid-19 crisis where a new Indian variant, known as B.1.617, has ripped through the nation.

Gurvinder tells of one local family who lost their mum just last week. They were unable to travel to India to see her due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"It is a challenging time," said Gurvinder. "It is heartbreaking listening on the radio and watching on the news that people are suffering.

"What people forget in places like India with around 1.4 billion population, obviously there are rich parts but the majority of the population do still live in poverty. Illiteracy is still very high out there."

He added: "It is important that those most vulnerable in society are given some protection and support."

The inclusion of India on the Government’s “red list” for travel is likely to place additional pressures on those fearful families who are unable to support relatives or in the most tragic cases, pay their final respects.

As a prominent member of the town's large Sikh community, Gurvinder has been working with different charitable and faith-based organisations to coordinate relief efforts.

The equalities chief, who also heads up Cohesion Plus which organises culturally diverse festivals, is looking to launch an appeal to raise money for struggling families in India.

He said: "We are very lucky here in the UK and in Kent that when situations like this arise in other parts of the world people are prepared to come together and lend their support.

"It's India today, tomorrow it could be another nation. We should be providing help and support to those countries that need it even though we are here in Kent."

There are also lessons to be learnt from the situation in India right now as countries around the world, including the UK begin to ease restrictions, he says.

"India had one of the most strictest lockdowns and it went on for many many months," he said.

"It's India today, tomorrow it could be another nation."

"Obviously the last couple of months it has kind of opened up, India played England in the cricket with thousands in the stadium, there were different kind of religious festivals....

He added: "Fingers crossed we are nearly coming out the other end but I think we still need to be cautious.

"I think it is important that we as a nation look at India and other parts of the world as they open up so that we can learn from that so we don't end up having another serious wave here, particularly in the Autumn months.

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