We will continue to feel the disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Schools and colleges will likely remain closed for the entire academic year. Businesses will find it hard to find a footing again. At this point, we cannot say anything with certainty. Looks like job losses will continue and thousands of individuals and families will be affected.

Amid such uncertainty, however, it is heart-warming to see that the entire nation is coming together. Small-time farmers, millionaires, and philanthropists are helping the country deal with the dangers of the pandemic. Many say that we are very lucky. Unlike in other countries and societies, we have the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu to provide immediate relief to distressed individuals.

What we must understand is that besides covering the cost of living expenses and sustaining demand for goods and services, the Kidu is also expected to boost morale and provide assurance of hope in these challenging times. More important, the Kidu is for the Bhutanese who are directly affected by the pandemic.

Many are jumping at the chance. Since the opening of the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu, the office has been dealing with endless calls. This is the time when the people should not think about making some extra buck from the Kidu but rather help each other out so that we can effectively fight our common enemy.

Overwhelming the Kidu office thus unnecessarily will have so many implications—some very serious. The rush can lead to the delay in providing urgent services to the people who are in dire need. Banks have come together to defer repayment of loans for three months. The government has ensured uninterrupted supply of essential commodities—we are stocking up food and other essential items. Landlords are waiving off tenant’s rent.

All these are measures being put together so that our people are safe and secure.

Here is how we can contribute meaningfully to the great fight. We are all in a spot of trouble, yes, but let us not block the work of Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu with our small and irrelevant worries. Giving space to the needy will help the Kidu reach to the people quickly and that is exactly what we need. Fighting the pandemic will become so much easier then.