Amid mass detentions, volunteer network offers medical, legal aid to protesters

As authorities detained thousands of protesters across Delhi during the CJP agitation over two days, a network of volunteers, doctors, lawyers, and social media influencers stepped forward to help, offering everything from medical assistance to legal aid.

Individuals and coordinated volunteer groups have supported detainees and their families, amplifying social media appeals to connect them with relevant resources. A CJP volunteer said in a social media post that more than 130 people are now working on a protest support initiative after a meeting of volunteers who helped protesters during Saturday’s agitation.

“We have about 130-plus people working on this initiative now. So I thought it was time to turn it into a thing,” the volunteer said in a video outlining plans to bring different support groups together.

The initiative includes a “Detainee Ghar Wapsi Yojana”, which aims to arrange transport and supplies for people returning home after being released from custody, and the Immediate Response First Aid Network (IRFAN), which brings together doctors and volunteers to help injured protesters.

Another initiative, called PAUSE, or People Are Under Systemic Exhaustion, has been developed to connect people experiencing trauma and exhaustion with therapists offering mental health support, according to the volunteer.

The volunteer also announced plans for a scouting team to gather on-the-ground information, a creator network to keep journalists and others updated on developments in different locations, and an information network to collect updates and pass them on to those who need them.