NEW DELHI — What began as a trickle of water bottles and biscuits on Monday has swelled into a full-fledged humanitarian operation at Jantar Mantar. As the student protest over exam paper leaks entered its third day, Delhi's civil society — gurdwaras, restaurants, resident welfare associations, doctors, lawyers, and ordinary citizens — has mobilized to sustain the protesters with food, water, medical care, and legal aid.

The effort is remarkable not just for its scale but for its spontaneous, decentralized nature. No single organization is coordinating; rather, a network of WhatsApp groups, Instagram stories, and word-of-mouth has matched needs with resources in real time.

"I've covered protests in Delhi for 15 years — anti-CAA, farmers', wrestlers'. I've never seen community support organize this fast, this broadly, across such diverse groups. Gurdwaras, South Delhi cafes, Old Delhi kebab joints, RWAs from Dwarka to Mayur Vihar — all showing up without being asked. That's the story here." — Priti Sharma, Senior Photojournalist, Delhi Press Post

The Langar Network: 24/7 Free Meals

Five gurdwaras have established continuous langar (community kitchen) operations at the protest site, serving an estimated 8,000-10,000 meals daily:

🏛️ Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (Connaught Place)

  • Location: Gate 1, Jantar Mantar (main langar tent)
  • Timing: 24 hours (shifts: 6AM-2PM, 2PM-10PM, 10PM-6AM)
  • Menu: Dal, sabzi, roti, rice, kheer; breakfast: paratha, chai
  • Capacity: 3,000 meals/day
  • Volunteers: 40 sevadars in rotation

🏛️ Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib (Chandni Chowk)

  • Location: Gate 3, Sansad Marg side
  • Timing: 7 AM - 10 PM
  • Specialty: Lassi, pakoras, fruit chaat for heat relief
  • Capacity: 2,000 meals/day
  • Note: Also providing water tankers (2 x 5000L)

🏛️ Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib (Near Parliament)

  • Location: Mobile van at Gate 5 (Rafi Marg)
  • Timing: 8 AM - 8 PM
  • Focus: Senior protesters, women, children
  • Capacity: 1,500 meals/day
  • Volunteers: 25 sevadars

🏛️ Gurdwara Nanak Piao (GT Karnal Road)

  • Location: Medical camp area, Gate 2
  • Timing: 9 AM - 9 PM
  • Specialty: Light meals for unwell protesters (khichdi, dalia)
  • Capacity: 1,000 meals/day

🏛️ Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC)

  • Role: Central coordination, logistics, procurement
  • Supply chain: Rations from 12 gurdwaras across Delhi
  • Transport: 4 tempo vans, 2 refrigerated trucks
  • Contact: protestaid@delhisgmc.org | +91-98XXX XXXXX

Restaurant & Food Outlet Contributions

Over 30 food businesses — from fine dining to street food icons — have committed daily supplies:

  • Haldiram's (CP, Karol Bagh, Noida): 2,000 bhujia/namkeen packets + 500 meal combos daily
  • Bikanervala (Multiple outlets): 1,500 raj kachori/samosa packets + 300 thalis daily
  • Kake Da Hotel (Connaught Place): 400 butter chicken/naan packs daily
  • Paranthe Wali Gali (Chandni Chowk - 7 shops): 1,000 stuffed paratha packs daily
  • Karim's (Jama Masjid): 300 mutton korma/rice packs daily
  • Sagar Ratna (Multiple): 500 idli/dosa packs + sambar daily
  • Café chains (Blue Tokai, Third Wave, Starbucks - 12 outlets): 1,000 sandwich/wrap packs + coffee daily
  • Local bakeries (Wenger's, Standard, Elma's): 2,000 bread/bun/pastry items daily
"We're a Delhi business. These students are Delhi's future. When they asked for water on Day 1, we sent 500 bottles. Now we're sending meals. It's not charity — it's responsibility. My own daughter writes CUET next year." — Rajesh Agarwal, Owner, Kake Da Hotel (est. 1931)

Medical Camps: Volunteer Doctors on Ground

Four medical camps staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, and paramedics are operating at the protest site:

🏥 Camp 1: Gate 1 (Main Entry)

  • Lead: Dr. Ananya Rao (RML Hospital, Junior Resident)
  • Team: 4 doctors, 6 nurses, 8 paramedics
  • Focus: Triage, dehydration, heat exhaustion, minor injuries
  • Equipment: BP monitors, glucometers, ORS, IV fluids, splints

🏥 Camp 2: Gate 3 (Sansad Marg)

  • Lead: Dr. Vikram Singh (AIIMS, Senior Resident, Ortho)
  • Team: 3 doctors, 4 nurses, 5 paramedics
  • Focus: Trauma, fractures, head injuries, wound care
  • Equipment: Cervical collars, splints, sterile dressings, suture kits

🏥 Camp 3: Medical Tent (Central Zone)

  • Lead: Dr. Priya Mehra (LNJP, Medicine)
  • Team: 5 doctors, 8 nurses, 10 volunteers
  • Focus: General medicine, chronic conditions, medications
  • Special: Free prescription medicines (donated by pharma reps)

🏥 Camp 4: Women's Wellness (Near Gate 2)

  • Lead: Dr. Kavita Sharma (Lady Hardinge, OBGYN)
  • Team: 3 female doctors, 6 nurses
  • Focus: Women protesters, menstrual hygiene, prenatal care
  • Supplies: Sanitary pads, ORS, iron/calcium supplements

Other Community Contributions

  • Resident Welfare Associations (15+ RWAs): Water tankers, coolers, fans, mattresses, bedsheets
  • Lawyers' Collectives (DBA, Supreme Court Bar, 50+ advocates): Free legal aid desk at Gate 2; 24/7 helpline for detainees
  • Student Unions (JNU, DU, Jamia, AMU, IIT Delhi): Volunteer coordinators, crowd management, communication
  • Auto/taxi unions: Free rides for students returning home late night
  • Pharmacy chains (Apollo, MedPlus, 1mg): Free medicines, ORS, electrolytes, first-aid supplies
  • Corporate CSR (3 companies): Portable toilets (12 units), handwashing stations, phone charging points

How to Contribute

Volunteer Coordination

👥 Volunteer Sign-Up & Coordination

Main coordination hub: Telegram group "JantarMantar_Aid" (2,400+ members) — real-time needs matching

Shift timings: 6AM-2PM | 2PM-10PM | 10PM-6AM (overnight critical)

Roles needed: Food distribution, medical assistance, crowd management, translation, data entry, transport, childcare

Safety briefing: Mandatory 15-min briefing at Gate 2 before first shift (covers: police protocol, medical emergency, dehydration signs, legal rights)

ID required: Aadhaar/voter ID + one photo for volunteer badge

Challenges & Gaps

Despite the massive outpouring, organizers flag critical gaps:

  • Night coverage (10PM-6AM): Only 20% volunteer strength; protesters most vulnerable
  • Sanitation: 12 portable toilets for 5,000+ people; long queues, hygiene concerns
  • Medical escalation: No on-site ambulance; critical cases need 15-min transport to RML
  • Internet suspension: Coordination harder; relying on walkie-talkies, physical runners
  • Weather: Monsoon forecast next 3 days — tents, tarpaulins, drainage urgently needed
"The generosity is overwhelming. But we're running on improvisation. We need institutional support — MCD for sanitation, Health Dept for ambulance, Police for safe corridors. Community can sustain, but not substitute, the state." — Harpreet Singh, DSGMC Coordinator (on ground since Day 1)

What Happens Next

  • Today 6 PM: DSGMC + RWA coordination meeting for monsoon preparedness
  • Tomorrow: 5 more gurdwaras pledging support; 2 corporate CSR commitments pending
  • Legal: Volunteer lawyers filing PIL for basic amenities (water, toilets, medical) at protest site
  • Sustainability: 7-day ration stock secured; 14-day pipeline being built

As the sun sets on Day 3, the langar fires burn bright, the medical tents glow with phone flashlights, and volunteers in fluorescent vests move through the crowd with water, biscuits, and a quiet determination. This is Delhi — protesting, yes, but also caring.