Amid Lockdown, Landlord Waives off Rent, Provides Food to Tenants

Kushal Pal, a landlord in Noida is requesting his 50 tenants to stay put by providing them food and waving rent

Kushal Pal, a landlord in UP distributing food to his tenants and domestic help

(Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

The current state of lockdown has been harsh on many but people across the country are trying to help in as many ways as they can.

Kushal Pal, a resident of the Barola village in Uttar Pradesh, is doing his bit by waiving off the rent for 50 of his tenants. Since many daily wage labourers are being forced to travel back to their respective hometowns in light of the coronavirus outbreak, Kushal waived off the rent of 50 people and is requesting them to stay put and not leave his residence to return back to their native place.

In light of the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown, it is deemed ideal and necessary for people to remain wherever they are. However for the lesser fortunate who survive on daily wages, this lockdown has been extremely difficult to get through. Not being able to afford rent and even basic essentials like food and water have forced them to walk back home.

In light of such events, Kushal has also provided other necessities to his tenants. He has given them 5 kg flour packets to all his tenants, his driver and also the security guards.

“Everyone should do this. We should help people in such tough times. I have 50 tenants and the rent would have been around Rs 1.50 lakh but I waived it off for this month. I have also given 5 kg packets of flour to my security guard, my driver and the domestic helper.”

Kushal Pal tells ANI

On Saturday, 28 March, the Noida administration passed an order asking landlords to collect rent from their worker-tenants only after a month, amid the lockdown.

(With inputs from ANI)