When the India Meteorological Department issued a cold wave warning for the Shekhawati region in the first week of January, with temperatures expected to drop to 4°C, our volunteer team knew they had to move fast. For families in the villages surrounding Bagar who live in homes with thin walls and no heating, a cold wave is not an inconvenience — it is a matter of survival.
Within 48 hours of the warning, we mobilised a blanket and warm clothing distribution drive. Over the next two weeks, our volunteer team reached 280 families across 11 villages in the Bagar block.
The geography of cold in Shekhawati
The Shekhawati region, sitting on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert, experiences a harsh winter that catches many by surprise. Day temperatures may be pleasant, but nights can plummet below freezing. The dry desert wind — known locally as the loo in summer and simply as the thandi hawa in winter — cuts through the thin walls of rural homes with ease.
For the poorest families — daily wage labourers, landless farmers, and elderly people living alone — a warm blanket is the difference between a bearable night and a dangerous one. Pneumonia and hypothermia are real threats, particularly for infants and the elderly.
How the drive worked
The distribution was organised in three phases:
- Phase 1 — Identification: Our volunteer network in each village identified the most vulnerable families — those with young children, elderly members, or no regular income. We worked with the local sarpanch (village head) in each village to ensure no one was missed.
- Phase 2 — Procurement: We sourced 340 heavy woolen blankets (locally called rajai) from wholesale suppliers in Jhunjhunu, prioritising quality and thickness. Each blanket cost approximately ₹350.
- Phase 3 — Distribution: Volunteers travelled to each village over six days, distributing blankets door-to-door rather than at a central point, to ensure they reached the intended recipients and not those who were less in need.
A volunteer's account
When we reached Bhaluki village, the temperature was 5°C. We found an elderly couple, Shri Bhairu Ram and his wife Smt. Pyari, sleeping under a single thin cotton sheet. They had no warm clothing at all. The look on their faces when we handed them two thick blankets — that is something I will carry with me for a long time. — Shri Vinod Kumar Swami, Volunteer, Bagar
Funding and gratitude
The entire drive was funded through individual donations and a contribution from Shri Gorishankar Jangir, Jaipur, one of our long-standing supporters. The total cost was approximately ₹1.2 lakh, including transport and logistics.
We are deeply grateful to all our donors and the volunteer team who braved the cold themselves to bring warmth to others. The next winter drive is already being planned for December 2026 — if you would like to contribute, a donation of ₹350 provides one blanket to a family in need.
