COVID 19 RESPONSE BY IGSSS and its Partners 4th Report (22nd April 2020)

INDO GLOBAL SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY 28, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003

Present Scenario – Macro Level

India is on its 29th day of lockdown today with over 18,000 confirmed cases of the noval coronavirus / COVID 19 to date. As per the data shared by Government shows that the corona curve is rising but at a slow pace. The central government's strategy to contain the coronavirus in the second phase of the lockdown includes dividing the districts based on the number of coronavirus cases and major testing exercise. Based on this, the government has divided the states into three zones -- red zone, orange zone, and green zones.

All Districts in (720)

Hot Spots Districts Non-Hotspot Districts Non-Infected Distrcits (Red Zone) - 170 (207)

*HotSpot Districts with large outbreaks are 123 A district currently in hotspots can move to the green category if no new cases arise in 28 days Besides the COVID 19 outbreak and fear of getting infected, the negative impact of lockdown on the life and livelihood of the poor and marginalised people are hunger and poverty. One of the leading newspapers in India, The Hindu shared in their report1 on 20th April 2020, that 96% of the migrant workers (11,159 surveyed) stranded in various states (between April 8th to 13th) did not receive rations from the government. Almost 90% of them did not receive their wages from their employers. Just yesterday (21st April) a 12-year- old migrant girl walking from the chili field of Telengana to her home in Chhatisgarh died just an hour away from her village. Like this many migrants have died on their way back home after lockdown. There is no data of people affected by hunger to date. Central and State Governments along with Civil Society Organisations are working hard to ensure that people have food, but the efforts are not adequate. The Central government has said migrant labourers stranded across various states can go to work within states from 21st April, though they will still not be allowed to go back to native places until the lockdown measures are in place. As per the government, these workers should be registered with local authorities who will also carry out their "skill-mapping" to make it easy for such people to find suitable work.

1 https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-96-migrant-workers-did-not-get-rations-from-the-government-90-did- not-receive-wages-during-lockdown-survey/article31384413.ece IGSSS and its Partner NGOs’ response: Update of Relief Distribution: IGSSS along with its partners are now responding with relief work in 15 cities. Out of targeted 7758 families (revised data), we can distribute the Dry Ration and Sanitation kit to around 2520 families till 20th April.

Sl No Region Name of NGO Name of Cities Number of Number of Partners and Name of Household Families State Supported Distributed /Status till 20th April 1 North IGSSS (Directly) Delhi 755 680 2 North Dalit Vikash Abhiyan Patna (Bihar) 551 10 Samiti (DVAS) 3 North Abul Kala Azad Jan Allahabad (UP) 350 95 Sewa Sansthan (AKAJSS) 4 North Amar Trishla Seva Muzaffarpur 441 95 Sanstha (ATSS) (Bihar) 5 North East Centre for Guwahati 916 670 Development (Assam) Initiatives (CDI) 6 East Cohesion Foundation 986 Procurement Trust (CFT) (Chhatishgrah) process 7 East Adarsh Seva Jamshedpur 642 completed. Sansthan (Jharkhand) Distribution 8 East Socio-Educational & Vizag (Andhra 166 will start Economic Pradesh) soon Development Society (SEEDs) 9 East Centre For Advocacy Bhubaneshwar 150 And Research (CFAR) (Odisha) 10 East Mahila Shiksha Bilaspur 110 Kalyan evam () Prashikshan Parishad (M.S.K.P.P.) 11 West Centre for Promoting Mumbai 250 Procurement Democracy (Maharashtra) completed 12 West Center for Ahmedabad (UP) 640 640 Development 13 West Bombay Urban Mumbai 630 Procurement Industrial League (Maharashtra) Completed (BUILD) 14 West Samaan Social Bhopal/Indore 921 80 Development Society (MP) 15 South Information and Chennai (Tamil 250 250 Resource Center for Nadu) The Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC) TOTAL 7758 2520 New Allocation: In Rural India, IGSSS and its partners have started identifying poor and needy people for support. Yesterday we could allocate around INR 25.45 lakhs to 12 NGO partners working in the Rural area. Very soon our NGO partners will distribute Dry Ration and Sanitary Kits and reach out to 4750 rural households.

Sl No Name of NGO Partners Name of the State/District / Block Number of Household Supported 1 Calcutta Society for Professional West Bengal/Nadia/Nabadwip 175 Action in Development (SPADE) 2 Society for Advancement in Jharkhand/ Godda/Sundarpahari 470 Tribes, Health, Education, and Environment (SATHEE) 3 Phooleen Mahila Chetna Vikash Jharkhand/Dumka/ Masaliya 200 Kendra 4 Lok Prerna Jharkhand/Sahebganj/ Borio 50 5 Samerth Charitable Trust Chhatishgarh/ / 165 Basna 6 SEDP (SOCIO ECONOMIC Odisha//Paparahandi 200 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM) 7 NIRMAN Odisha/Kandhamal/Phiringia 580 8 Integrated Development Society Odisha/Koraput/Dasamantapur 400 (IDS) 9 Sebajagat Odsiha/Kalahandi/Lanjigarh 400 10 Dharti Gramothan Avm Madhya Pradesh/ 410 Shehbhagi Gramin Vikas Samiti Morena/Pahargarh 11 VIKALP Gujarat/ Dang/ Waghai 1000 12 Matruchaya Social Welfare Maharashtra/ Amravati/Dharni 700 Society TOTAL House Hold 4750

Virtual volunteering: It is an effective way to contribute during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Through Community WhatsApp Group in the last three weeks, viz., the CBOs established/formed in 28 villages of Baramulla and Bandipora districts are playing very active and key roles to inform people about the COVID-19 pandemic and provide relief to all those who are in dire need. In Jharkhand, Gola of Ramgarh District, we have a community Whatsapp group, which has a total of 22 members including our field staff. 1 or 2 community representatives. Through this network, we have tried to create awareness among the community regarding the COVID 19.

The level of awareness created through community WhatsApp groups has shown fruitful and meaningful results as all of the members are directly engaged with their village people & are updating us every day on the groups in regards to what they are doing in their villages. DRR volunteer groups came forward to support local administration & are helping them in the relief response. We as a team are developing voice messages in Kashmiri and are circulating them among these groups, which is a very easy tool that helps understand and educate regarding the situation very well without creating any further panic.

On average, one member reaches out to 14-17 people through each message/news shared in the group, due to which we can stay connected with the community. All the CBOs at the community level are contributing their distinct skills, capacities, knowledge & perceptions while generating awareness among their concerned villages on COVID-19. Directions/ Instructions/World Health Organization posters/ National Disaster Management Authority posters are being circulated on the community WhatsApp group to consider all precautionary measures while also providing any kind of assistance to the people affected by COVID-19.

Fifteen Staff attended 7 training programmess organized by Sphere India in-collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, HCL and NDM India online on COVID-19. Update from Region SOUTH Region:

In South, IGSSS is working in Kerala, Waynad District -Thirunelly, and Kottathara Gram Panchayat. We are constantly supporting the needy community to get connected with the local administration and helping the community people to get connected through virtual media for awareness and the right information regarding COVID 19. Due to the continuous communication with the community, one of our community mobilizers (Ms. Anjitha) connected the needy person to the service providers. She took an appreciable effort of reporting the issue of lack of essential medicines in the village to local administration and ensured that the issue has been solved. According to our community mobilizers, especially in the tribal sector, the lack of alcohol consumption maintains a peaceful atmosphere especially in the families and domestic violence in any way reportedly less, which is ‘the good-positives side of COVID-19.’ Western Region: IGSSS intervene directly in Madhya Pradesh, Jhabua District, Block- Jhabua and Rama, 15 migrant labour families have been identified and supported for health check-up through ASHA workers. They have been isolated for 14 days in the village Kokavad hostel. Community members from Women Self Help Groups and Project staff are monitoring the Ration shops so that everyone receives their entitlements. In collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 65 farmers of 4 villages were given 50 Kadaknath chicks as livelihood support. Village development committee and panchayat have distributed masks in the community. In Khargone District, Barwah block around 237 Farmers have been supported to register themselves for Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (price difference payment scheme). (It is a scheme of the Government of Madhya Pradesh whereby the government pays farmers the difference between official Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the rate at which they sell their crops or Model Price whichever is higher.) Around 11 villages have been fully sanitized with the support of the Village Development Committee (VDC - formed and facilitated by IGSSS) and Local Rural Governance – Panchayat. VDC and Panchayat head distributed the mask to the community and aware of them to maintain their immunity system. In the Western Region, along with 18 NGO partners are trying its best to support the poor and needy to ensure that they don’t suffer from hunger and keep themselves protected from COVID 19 infection.

IGSSS partners’ are working in the following State, Districts, and Block:

Sl Partner Project State/District/Block Important Activities Conducted No 1 PECSS SuPoshan GUJ/Barwani/Sendhwa 35 Women are facilitated in producing vegetables through a nutrition garden in their backyard for their immediate food needs. 2 SPECTRA SuPoshan RAJ/Dholpur/Baseri 300 Supplementary Ration Kits have been distributed; 350 Sanitizers were distributed to the govt. officials at the Block level, Asha, ANM & AWW at the village level. 3 Dharti SuPoshan MP/Morena/Pahadgarh With the support from Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) and CBOs, 300 Mask have been distributed to the target community in the 06 target villages. 4 Shrushti SuPoshan RAJ/Banswara/ CBOs at the village level disseminating Kushalgarh the importance of social distancing, and also making social distancing circles at the public spaces. 5 Divyasadan SuPoshan MH/ Amrawati/ Morshi 500 needy people are identified for dry and Chandur Bazar ration to be given by next week. 6 Matruchaya SuPoshan MH/ Amravati/ Dharni Members of CBOs are generating awareness among the community on social distancing and precaution against COVID 19. 7 Rajpipla Social SuPoshan GUJ/ Dangs /Ahwa Community Kitchen has been started for Service Society 150 families at the district level by the team Rajpipla, in coordination with the district administration. 8 Lok Samagraha SuPoshan MH/ Chandrapur/ Relief material has been supplied to 550 SSS Sindewahi slum dwellers in and around the district boundaries. Supplementary Ration Kits were also distributed to 200 families. 9 ISDT CLAD UP/ Chitrakoot/ 18 members of Women Watch Group Chitrakoot and CBOs from 10 project villages are working to the aware community on the ways to prevent infection of COVID 19. 10 Sarvodaya CLAD UP/ Chitrakoot/ Mau Working on the awareness and sansthan disseminating information on government support. 11 Abhudaya CLAD UP/ Mahoba/ Kabrai Awareness Drives with ASHA and sansthan Anganwadi workers. 12 JCSS Jhansi CLAD UP/ Jhansi, Banda/ Dry ration distribution to 150 families, Tindwari Identification of the migrant 200 families in 5 villages of Tindwari block of Banda dist. Involved CBO and PAT Members to the aware rural community on social distancing and safety issues, hygiene, etc. 13 Gorakhpur CLAD UP/ Mahoba/ Panwadi SMS based advisory disseminated on Environmental COVID 19 to 405 farmers Action Group Helped 85 people to Download ArogyaSetu App Distribution of free ration to 90 vulnerable HH 90 and cooked food to 32 vulnerable HH. 14 Samarthan CLAD MP/ Panna/ Panna Coordination with 343 ASHA and Anganwadi worker and 346 Panchyat representatives in Panna dist Coordinated with Panchayat members, Asha and AWW in 10 Gram Panchyat Identified 220 migrant families and provided list to dist administration Distribution of soap and face mask to 150 old age and pregnant women. Awareness through wall writing in 80 places on Coronavirus precaution measures. 15 NIWCYD CLAD MP/ Sagar/ Rehli Awareness and Food Support for needy community people. Communication for extending volunteer support to Bhopal administration and Coordination with Sagar Municipal Corporation and child line. 16 Samaan Samaveshi MP/ Bhopal Madhya Pradesh Navnirmaan Manch volunteers distributed ration kit to 50 families in Jabalpur through local contribution for migrant workers from Jharkhand who got stuck in Jabalpur. 17 BUILD Samaveshi Maharashtra/ Mumbai The Maharashtra Government has city accepted the demands of the homeless collective. All public toilet has been made free to use. All laborers will receive 2000 rupees in their accounts. saying they can not have it anymore. 18 SAATH Samaveshi Gujarat/Surat Ration kit distribution to 100 people, 3000 food packets are distributed every day to individuals. Mat and sanitiser distributed to 175 homeless and labourers. Nutritious food distributed to pregnant women and lactating mothers. Gujarat laborer association has also distributed more than 600 ration kits.

35 Women are producing vegetables through Kitchen Garden, it helped them availing nutritive food items, whereas excess vegetables were distributed to the other families involving CBO members of the village. Especially to the families having pregnant and lactating women. The initiative was been taken in Bijapur village in MP – PECSS

Need Assessment survey has been conducted with Members of SHGs have supported by stitching the 157 families of Sahariya Tribes, in 06 target and distributing Mask in the 05 target villages, villages of Pahadgarh Block in Morena, Madhya the initial contract was been given by the PRIs Pradesh by Dharti Sanstha giving them an alternate source of earning during the lockdown. Reported by Rajpipla Social Service Society – Ahwa Block, Dangs, Gujarat

Kitchen Garden Developed at beneficiary Field in Safety Kits for Field staff purchased by CFD the target villages of Sendhwa Block Kashmir Region

Dry Ration and Cash Support by the community to the community:  DRR committees, Youth Groups, and Community Based organisations (from Sarie Dangerpora, Ganastan, Yakmanpora, Trigam, Nowgam, Ankhuloo, Gund-e- Ibrahim, Mundiyari, and Shalboni) collected around 1290 kgs of dry ration & distributed among 104 poor, marginalized & vulnerable families in their villages.  Rehmat-A Farmer Producer Group Odina has collected 300 Kgs of dry ration, withdrew 8,000 INR from their groups' savings account & supported 25 most marginalized families with 12 Kgs of rice, 1 Kg mustered oil, ½ Kg chili, ½ kg turmeric & 1 Kg salt per family in their respective village.  Khatija Women Farmer Group has collected 95 Kgs 0f dry ration and vegetables & distributed among nine resource-poor families into their respective village.  Gousia, Mehak & Sultaneya Producer Groups of Ganastan village of Bandipora district have approached the Baitul-Mal committee in their village to ensure support to 14 most vulnerable and marginalized families.  Two widows have been helped through CBO with ration in Trigham village and one needy family provided with 20 Kg ration, pulses and oil by youth in village Gund-e-Ibrahim  At least 13000 INR raised by the youth of Palhalan to help poor and needy with ration.

Sanitization & Awareness Drives  Youth groups and DRRR committees from 7 villages organized sanitization and awareness drives in collaboration with PRI members.  During this week three voice messages in local language were published based on advisories by the Indian council of agriculture research & sheep husbandry department Kashmir for farmers (General Episode on Precautionary Measures COVID-19, Farmer & Agri-Advisories COVID-19 & on Livestock Management COVID-19).

DRR Task Force members facilitated by IGSSS, in the discussion. They are supporting the distribution of food kits arranged by them and other community groups for most marginalized families.

DRR Task Force members cleaning their village in Arampora Village

Networking and Support by Government Officials  A list of 256 families from nine villages of Bandipora district was submitted to Tehsildar & legal aid service cell Sumbal after they approached the IGSSS to submit a list of families who need support. The govt. officials say that the support will be both ration and cash. So far more than 200 families have received follow up calls from the concerned authorities.  DRR committees & youth groups are continuously making face masks for common people. More than 831 face masks were made by four youth groups & distributed among 256 families.  Khamnaie Youth group Najan approached SDM Sumbal for providing curfew passes for six youth group members who can volunteer in reaching out to poor families with ration and other commodities and in medical emergencies. a. All these volunteers have been provided with passes by the authorities.  DRR committee Zaddi Mohalla linked 3 families with Tehsil Supply Officer Pattan. These families were without ration cards from the last two years.

Training  Six Youth from DRR committee members attended 7 training programmess organized by Sphere India in-collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, HCL, and NDM India online on COVID-19.

 Two youth volunteers attended a learning sharing meeting (Digital Youth Adda) organised by IGSSS Delhi. In this meeting, youth volunteers of different regions participated and shared impacts of COVID-19 and how to deal with its grassroots level.

Week-Wise & Consolidated Figures for 32 villages of Baramulla and Bandipora districts

S Particulars March 2020 Till 15th April April 2020 Total Families No Last Week 2020 This Week Covered 1 Dry Ration Collection & Nil 359 Families 153 Families 512 Families Distribution by DRR, Farmer/Artisan/Livestock Groups in 22 villages 2 Food kits mobilized Nil 76 Families 0 76 Families through doctors, businessmen, contractors, etc 3 Sanitation & Awareness 20 Villages 33 Villages 7 villages Repetitions Drives 4 Cash Transfers by Labour Nil 872 Families 0 872 Families Department Baramulla & Bandipora 5 Gas Cylinders Home Nil 1532 Families 0 1532 Families Delivery in 9 villages 6 Distribution of Masks Nil 2528 Masks 831 3359 7 Ration Distributed by PDS Nil 8541 Families 3 Families 8544 shops 32 villages

East Region In the Eastern Region, IGSSS along with its 14 partners are in the field supporting the poor and needy to ensure that they are not hungry and be safe from COVID 19 infection.

Sl. No Name of NGO Partners Presence (Location) State/District/Block Jharkhand/Godda/Sunderpahari 1 SATHEE

Chhattisgarh/Gariaband 2 Lok Astha Sewa Sansthan

3 Lok Kalyan Seva kendra Jharkhand/Godda/ Porriyahat 4 Abhivykati Foundation Jharkhand / Giridih /Bengabad 5 Torpa Rural Development Society Jharkhand / Khunti/Torpa & Rania (TRDSW) 6 SPADE West Bengal / Nadia Sebajagat Odisha/ Lanjigarh/ Kalahandi 7 INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY Odisha /Dasamantapur / Korapu 8 SEDP Odisha / Papdahandi / Nabarangpur 9 EKTA Odisha / Kashipur /Rayagada 10 DHARA Odisha/ Mahakalapara/ Kendrapra

Major Work Done till now (Facilitated by NGO Partners and IGSSS)

Areas of Work Quantitative Date SHGs manufacturing Masks 37 SHG members from 40 villages prepared 23,750 handmade reusable and washable masks for the use of the Project beneficiaries. Entitlement Facilitated to be received by poor 71 Farmers received PM Kisan Sahyog Yojana and needy people 19 Old age received a pension 126 women received under Jand Dhan Yojana 191 HHs Received 1 refill for gas cylinder 235 MGNREGA cardholder received their due of previous months 380 Ujjalla beneficiary received Rs. 805/- each( DI, CRAFT-K) 420 Construction workers received Rs. 1500/- each (DI, CRAFT-K) Dry Ration Distribution 200 Senior citizen received Dry ration

2678 received Dry ration under PDS, Mukhiya fund and Block support & 222 on the cardholder 15 stranded wage labours Hygiene Kits distribution 95 Hygiene Kits distributed to 95 HHs Awareness building ( social distancing and 1000 HHs awarded on Physical Distancing and other campaigns led by the community) Hygiene Practices Broadcasted through15 community Radio 275 face mask distributed to community 972 HHs health assessment 80 families got water supply at the doorstep 43 poorest poor and needy household linked in cooked food camp Identification of vulnerable, sick, indigent, 1000 people identified in different villages who destitute nad distressed persons and work for have migrated from outside states without any them testing or precautions 400 migrant labours have been tested negative Community monitoring of food, grain, dry food 822 People are daily provided food from and cash support provided by Govt ( quality, Community Kitchen quantity and timely food supply (QQT) 125 most marginalized families 1000 People are daily provided food from Didi Kitchen 43 poorest poor and needy household linked in cooked food camp 12 left out eligible beneficiary received old age and widow pensions Community monitoring & address of vegetable 2 WSHG Didi linked with the local vendor selling/ farmers issues & challenges 44 wage labour received 20 Kg of Wheat VDC members contacted vegetable suppliers for selling of standing of 1880 kg mixed crops Documentation/ Publication/ Advocacy Crop Loss analysis have been started for the (compilation of schemes/ circulars/ help PAVE Project villages numbers/ organisations/ tweet/ news clippings etc) Livelihood Loss analysis has been started for the CLAD project village Non-Timber Forest Produce Till now Kendu Leaf (NTFP) procurement centers ( Phadi house- collection center) not functioned.

Creating community volunteers in the project 21 community volunteers created area to fight against COVID 19 MGNREGA work In Bhateni village of Mahakalapara, Kendrapra, Odisha MGNREGA work has started. 80% of the families of these villages are engaged in earthwork for village road construction from Friday onwards.

Sensitization jingle & other messages have been developed & broadcasted to the 15 community radio stations ( 90.4 FM) across Odisha. The outreach of the radio includes the towns, Peri-urban areas of the state apart from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack & other cities

Community Kitchen in Sunderpahari Block of Godda SHG member preparing Masks in Sunderpahari Block District, Jharkhand of Godda District, Jharkhand

Old Age people provided with Dry Food Ration in Hygiene Practice demonstrated by Mitanin (ASHA) in Gariaband Block, Chhattisgarh: Su-Poshan Partner Su-Poshan Project villages Gariaband Block, Lok Astha Sewa Sansthan Chhattisgarh

CRAFT-K, Kalahandi, Odisha

BDO ( Priyadarshini Mirdha) and OLM representatives have visited our different project villages for monitoring of cooked food supply camp, mask preparation unit of Bijapati, hearing complaints about the inclusion of needy peoples in cooked food supply schemes and pipe water supply unit of Siletpada.

BDO Karlamunda distributing Rs. 1500/- cash to Surprise visit of BDO, Karlamunda and OLM construction labour of our project village, representative ( cooked food quality checking Bijapati by BDO )

BDO and OLM representatives discussing BDO & OLM representatives visited the mask Terchapala VDC members on Mask stitching and preparation unit of Bijapati for quality checking issues related to the cooked food supply

Mukhymantri Didi Kitchen is providing food to poor, helpless, laborers, and single women families every day in Satphari village, Porriyahat Block of Godda district, Jharkhand of CLAD project area.

CLAD Project, Torpa & Ranai Block, Khunti, Jharkhand (TRDSW)

8 Mukhay Mantri Didi Kitchen in both block Torpa NABARD distributed hygiene kit with sanitizer, & Rania, khunti, Jharkhand & serving cooked food soap, and mask to 45 people in Bishunpur village to around 1000 needy people of Sundari Panchyat, Rania, Jharkhand

Mukhiya distributed dry ration and mask to non- Mahila Sangh from JSLPS distributed dry ration PDS cardholder from Mukhiya fund in Rania & to the non-PDS cardholder with block support in Torpa block, Khunti, Jharkhand Rania & Torpa block, Khunti, Jharkhand

Mahila Sangh from JSLPS distributed dry ration to Rania Police station distributed cooked food to stranded wage labour with block support in Rania community and children in Rania, Khunti, & Torpa block, Khunti, Jharkhand Jharkhand

TRDSW donated dry ration of 30 Kg for one day to TRDSW women staff along with SHG didi Friends club in Torpa, Khunti, Jharkhand preparing the facemask of 2000 for community usage.

SuPOSHAN Project, Koraput, Kendrapra, Kalahandi, Rayagad, Nabarangpur, Odisha

VAT members /Volunteers of IDS, Suposhan MGNREGA work started at one village of the project area monitoring community kitchen and Suposan project area. Bhateni village CRDG PDS distribution, Koraput, Odisha members managing work profile, mask use, and distance. Kendrapra, Odisha

With the help of identified community volunteers, Farmers of Ckikamba gram panchayat selling these women have started selling vegetable at vegetables in the Dasamantar market with the market, Koraput, Odisha support of volunters. BDO, Dasamantapur block arranged auto for transpoting, Koraput, Odisha

AWW making children aware about hand wash in Dry ration supported children through AWC, Kashipur, Rayagada, Odisha Kashipur, Rayagada, Odisha

Mask distribution in Suposhan project areas by SHG preparing cloth mask on request of OLM at Sebajagat, Kalahandi, Odisha Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Odisha

SEDP staff making people aware of the handling of Impact of our Counselling of COVID 19 - safe drinking water and maintaining social Maintaining Social distancing during Taking distance while fetching water from tubewell, water from tubewell at Padmathopa village of Papdahandi, Nabarangpur, Odisha Lanjigarh block, Kalahandi, Odisha NORTH REGION In the Northern region – Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, IGSSS along with its 12 NGO partners are working to support the poor and needy. In the Su-Poshan Project area, our NGO partner Gautam Budhhda Jagriti society (GBJS) has been implementing the Su-Poshan Project in 22 Villages of Uska Bazaar Block, Sidharthnagar. They have been active in responding to the COVID 19 outbreak and lockdown impact on the lives of poor people.

Frontline worker(safai karamchari) given Physical Distancing maintained at sanitization sanitizing kits at uska bazaar, sidhharthnagr distribution centres sidhdhartngar

“Jann Ki Jankari”: An awareness van campaign started by Gautam Budhha Jagriti Society

Under the initiative JANN ki Jankari posters and banners prepared and community awareness is given by GBJS staff

Physical distancing and awareness on COVID 19

Thus GBJS, through awareness van explained physical distancing, the right way of using the mask, the right way of handwashing, and the importance of going for testing based on symptoms as well as the need for migrant labourers returned from other states to contact ASHA worker. Beside this GBJS with their resources could distribute:

 25,000 soaps to 10,000 people.

 With coordination with local Gurudwara, committee mobilized sanitary pads and Lunch packets for poor people. Kitchen garden developed in Suposhan 1st year –helped 500 families to avail vegetables during this lockdown periods. DEHAT, IGSSS NGO partner working in Bahraich, UP distributed with their resources:  Nutrition Garden (NG) kit to the target families under the SuPoshan project supported by IGSSS. Out of 2700, around 1300 families have given the NG kit.  The most 972 vulnerable families are identified and the data was shared with Govt officials as well as used for providing services like ration kit and children supplementary/nutrition snacks. 216 dry ration packets were given and 300 children were given nutrition snacks –which lab-tested comes out in the name Marsh Edg . Promoted by Tata trust under India Nutrition initiative (Target is for reaching out with 55000 people)  The message of social distancing and hand wash demonstration is taking place. An average of 50 people was trained. Soaps were given at the end of the training.

Dry Ration distribution in tribal villages of DEHAT Organization like Bishnapur, Rampurwa, Bardiya, and fakirpuri

Ration distribution in the Forest Villages like Nayi Basti, Kailash Nagar, Bhatta Bargadha, Bihari purwa Sanitary pads have given in the times of crisis

Sanitary pads have been distributed by DEHAT organization to the single women destitute and widows

Nutrition bar(GoMo) given to children to maintain the nourishment of the body. Four Bars for one child are sufficient to maintain the nutrition level of the body for a month along- with the cut-down meals they are taking. Dehat has distributed around 55000 packets of GoMo till date in collaboration with Tata Trust under the India Nutrition Initiative

GoMo Nutrition Bar for children.

Sristi Seva Sansthan coordinated with Govt and supported 100 families with dry ration in Maharaj Ganj-UP. Sanitary kit/Soaps along with the pamphlets on awareness related to coronavirus and importance of wash were distributed to 100 families Bihar Voluntary Health Association assisted people in accessing food from PDS, especially to those who were having problems in getting PDS. Necessary negotiations with the PDS officials were made and the required documents prepared for the people. Online registration for migrant labourers was done by BVHA staff (who returned from other states) for getting Rs. 1000 from Govt. Around 50 people were assisted to receive the benefits. Samagra Seva Kendra (SSK) Gaya, Bihar formed what's app group for leaders and community members for disseminating correct and timely messages from govt and health department concerning the awareness messages on COVID 19. Posters and handbills on COVID 19 and Wash practices were distributed in villages. A list of 150 people who do not have a ration card was identified and reported to Block development officer and 60 of them got the ration card along with the PDS benefit.

NGO partners in Urban Areas:

LUCKNOW Ankur Yuva From 13th April to 17th April 2020, partner distributed total Chetna Ration kit of 3622, 55,850 food packets, 2400 soap, and 3500 Shivir sanitary napkins,6 People got medicine support,12 got financial help. ALLAHABAD Abul Kalam Azad Jan Seva Sansthan

Through the collective efforts of voluntary organizations and citizens, 55 community kitchens have been set up and every day 22 to 24 thousand people are being served breakfast and food.

Allahabad help group is providing dry ration to about 500 families daily. Raw ration and vegetables distributed to 95 families of construction workers, domestic workers supported by IGSSS.

DELHI NIRMANA During the third week of lockdown, Dry Rations was procured through local contribution and distributed to 400 households. Assistance was provided to non-ration cardholders in the community to enroll themselves on the Delhi Govt website so that they too could avail of this benefit.

150 persons in the community were explained on how to use the mobile app for demanding rations. The awareness drive was also launched to provide information to all construction workers to access government benefits MUZAFFARPUR Amar Dry Ration and sanitation kits Trishla distributed to 95 families in Seva slums and migrant labouer Ashram supported by IGSSS.

NORTHEAST Food scarcity is chronic in almost all the villages as people are running out of cash and the support received is fairly inadequate. IGSSS teams in the northeast region are in constant touch with the community, taking note of their situation and disseminating useful information through WhatsApp Group as well direct telephonic call. It is important to note that Manipur is declared COVID-19 free as both the positive persons have recovered completely. Another notable measure initiated by Churachandpur District Police is that it is conducting a periodic health check-up of its officers and personnel.

Conclusion As the lockdown is extended, IGSSS and its partners are constantly watching the situation in rural and urban locations to ensure that poor and marginalised people can access government resources and enhance their capacity to cope up in this difficult situation. Next week most of our relief distribution will be completed hopefully.