Meet Zoeb Bhutia, Sikkim Man Who Is Feeding The Hungry Free Momo During Pandemic

The world is a good place and there are some people who are making it better. Ever since the pandemic struck India, we have come across several stories of individuals who have ensured the needy don't go hungry. However, not everyone can do what this individual, Zoheb Bhutia, from Sikkim is doing. He is providing authentic momo to people who cannot afford to have a hearty meal due to the pandemic.

Zoeb Bhutia

How it all began?

Zoeb, Founder, MO Square, says it all began as a personal ambition. He always wanted people to enjoy authentic momo and not the ones people end up ordering from the streets.

"So, I began a small operation, just home deliveries of momo. I, along with my business partner, Pema, started making them at home. We had the support of a few friends, family members, and so we just went with it", he recalls.

Zoeb Bhutia

Everything was going fine until one day when he had gone to AIIMS area to distribute about 100 plates to the people who were stranded outside. The sight of the helpless people shook him to the core. He knew he didn't have enough that night to feed them all so he went back again the next day with some more food making it a regular thing.

Stopped home delivering to feed them

"There came a point when we stopped home delivering, and only concentrated on feeding the destitute", he said.

He added that his school's alumnus highlighted his efforts on their school's social media pages after which his efforts spread like wildfire. "Finally, Arnold Mukhia, an alumnus of St. Paul's School Darjeeling, highlighted my efforts on our school's social media pages, and that is when the operation really blew up", he said.

His team

His team basically consists of four core members and there are many others who work behind-the-scenes.

"My team consists of Pema, who is also my business partner, and she is the one responsible for making the momo; we have Ugyen who also helps out in cooking, delivering. Peter, who helps in the kitchen, and delivers; Priyata, who is doing PR; and Dr. Gautam, who has been helping me with resources, planning, coordinating", he said.

Zoeb Bhutia

Zoheb is also thankful to his parents and other family members who have helped him in doing good for the society.

Managing finances

Zoeb credits his school's alumna Arnold Mukhia for this. His post garnering attention on the school's social media pages was vital in reaching out to more people across the country.

St. Paul's School, Darjeeling/ Facebook

"Our school's prestigious alumni from across the world has stepped in. I got a number of donations from old boys of the school, who are known as Old Paulites", he said.

Not only them, even his family members, friends and a few benevolent people on social media helped him add more help in form of food boxes containing fruits, ration and water in addition to the momo he distributes.

Why momo?

Momo is comfort food, Zoeb says and he though a plate of good momo can do wonders to our appetite.

Indiatimes

"My family owns one of the oldest hotels in Sikkim, it is called Green Hotel. Right from get go the main item in the restaurant has always been momo. Momo is of course comfort food, some would say it is even a luxury food item for the homeless. So why not? It is part of my culinary heritage, and on a bad day, a plate of momo can do wonders to your mood", he added.

Helped in providing employment

The place where he provides momo to people around AIIMS, he has even hired two people who have patients in the hospitals and wanted to work. Those two are working as kitchen help and delivery executive.

Zoeb Bhutia

At a time when everyone's fighting their own battles due to the pandemic, Zoeb ensures these destitute and needy people, don't sleep hungry.