COVID‐19 RESPONSE BY IGSSS and its Partners 5th Report (29th April 2020) INDO GLOBAL SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY 28, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi‐110003 Present Scenario – Macro Level Major problem faced by Indian Poor: We are in the last week of the lockdown 2.0 in India. Hunger is one of the big issues besides COVID 19 infection that the migrant labourers, informal sectors workers and other excluded communities are fighting with. The state and central governments have announced the food scheme which will be distributed to the poor and needy through the Public Distribution System (PDS). This is the system on which two‐third of the Indian population rely on food grains like rice, wheat, and sugar at a much cheaper price than the price in the local market. So PDS is the backbone of our fight against hunger. Above all the Food Security Act mandates that no one should go hungry and adequate food grains should be made available for the poor and needy people. Among the many problems that the ongoing nationwide lockdown has highlighted are the problems of India’s Public Distribution System (PDS).1 A huge issue with Ration Cards is surfacing in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and many other states. Over 2,100 people from the transgender community have written to the government recently demanding a special package for them, which includes an assured subsistence income of at least Rs. 3,000 per month till Covid‐19 is in full control2. In the same way, many of the marginalized groups like sex workers are facing neglect from the services and support providers. Silver Lining: Pune Zilla Parishad, in a unique initiative, has created a ‘mirror public distribution system (PDS)’ where food grains will be distributed to vulnerable rural sections like tribal communities and migrant labourers, through temporary ration cards. This move from Ayush Prasad, chief executive officer (CEO), Pune Zilla Parishad, is expected to benefit more than 80,000 undocumented people residing in the rural areas of the district, who are hit hard by the lockdown. These people belong to vulnerable and the most economically backward sections like migrant labourers, transgenders, and particularly vulnerable tribal groups3. We hope that we have more such CEO in our district who starts thinking passionately out‐side the box initiative to support the poorest and needy. IGSSS and its Partner NGOs’ response: IGSSS along with its 14 NGO partners are reaching out to more than 7,700 poorest and needy households in 15 cities – Delhi; Patna and Muzaffarpur (Bihar); Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Guwahati (Assam), Raipur and Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Vizag (Andhra Pradesh), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Mumbai (Maharashtra) Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Bhopal/Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) of 12 states in India. In rural India, IGSSS along with its 12 NGO partners are reaching out to around 5000 poorest and needy households in 7 states ‐ West Bengal (Nadia‐Nabadwip), Jharkhand (Godda‐Sundarpahari, Dumka‐ Masaliya, Sahebganj –Borio) Chhatisgarh (Mahasamund‐Basna), Odisha (Nabarangpur‐ 1 https://indianexpress.com/audio/3‐things/can‐india‐prevent‐millions‐from‐going‐hungry‐during‐the‐covid‐ 19‐lockdown/6383775/ 2 Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/excluded‐from‐govt‐schemes‐ during‐lockdown‐transgenders‐demand‐special‐package‐830945.html 3 https://www.thehindu.com/news/states/pune‐zilla‐parishad‐creates‐mirror‐pds/article31392376.ece Paparahandi, Kandhamal‐Phiringia, Koraput‐Dasamantapur, Kalahandi‐Lanjigarh), Madhya Pradesh (Morena‐Pahargarh), Gujarat (Dang –Waghai), Maharashtra (Amravati‐Dharni). IGSSS is also planning to reach out along the coordination with District Administration and local NGO partners, to street vendors, domestic workers, and many other poorest and marginalized communities facing the danger of hunger in the coming week. Update from Region North East Region: Human Story: N. Sheikh, a Rickshaw puller, aged around 40 years lives with his wife and 3 minor children. He used to earn Rs. 150‐200 per day and thus, managed his household needs. But the lockdown has left him jobless. His family is almost begging and would sleep starving if nobody in the neighbourhood supports him. The only assistance he received is free rice from the government. There are many more like him to tell their own stories of loss and despair. COVID‐19 outbreak followed by lockdown has impacted the daily wage labourers who have no alternative source of income. IGSSS with support from India Fellow (https://www.indiafellow.org/covid‐relief/) reached out to some most vulnerable and needy individuals who received one‐time cash assistance of Rs. 2000 each. IGSSS staff from the field meticulously identified the neediest and poorest household (after due assessment) and connected with the support fro the India Fellow program. Through this, we could support 22 households. Total Amount received by all the households is INR 51,500/‐ Manipur Lakhimpur Dhemaji Bodo Territorial Region (BTR) 3 Households 8 Households 7 Households 4 Households. Positive things happening: Distribution of Free Rice: More than 80% population within IGSSS intervention areas is covered under PDS that received free rice distributed by the government. All the ration card holders were Fuel to those farmers having provided 5 KG of rice/ person in the family. In some of tractor/power tiller and the the rice the villages, people also received pulses, salt, and mill owners have been given at mustard oil. In Karbi Anglong even the non‐ration different oil pumps/station in cardholders are provided the relief items. Churachandpur district, Manipur Farming activities resumed in some parts: Farmers from the targeted project area of IGSSS in Lakhimpur have resumed their farming activities maintaining social distancing. Weeding of Ahu, tilling, ploughing and preparing seedbeds for Sali & Bau paddy cultivation have begun. Awareness of people: People in the project area especially in Lakhimpur are vigilant enough to identify people coming to village during the lockdown and motivate them to go for quarantine in coordination with village and district administration. For Example: In Lakhimpur, it has been reported that one person who arrived from Red Zone area, that, is Golaghat, is kept in‐home quarantine. Another person from Red Zone district Dhubri has reportedly entered one of Peace Action intervention villages Duramari, Kokrajhar, which currently falls under the green zone. As soon as the Village Headman came to know about it, he along with the community members informed the police and immediately sent the person for the medical test but found negative. It shows the awareness level of the people regarding how the disease spreads has increased and they are taking steps to stop the infection Endangered species rescued by villagers: One critically endangered species of Lemur Slow Lorris was found by the villagers of Dorcas Veng, Churachandpur, on April 25, 2020. This was safely handed over to the District Forest Department. The forest official assumed that the animal landed up in human settlement due to lockdown and lauded the responsibility of the villagers. Challenges that common people are facing Drug addiction amongst adolescents: WPCs (Women Peace Committee) of Chirang district have reported that adolescents addicted to drugs are facing serious health problems. The WPCs of Bengtol zone have shared that around 20 to 25 youths are victims of substance abuse. The WPCs have decided to discuss this matter with the local intellectuals and CBOs once the lockdown reopens. Withdrawal of Money: The real challenge the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Pradhan Mantri Jan‐Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) beneficiaries faced was to withdraw the money. They received the cash transfer from the government but have to travel 10 to 15 KM on foot (due to lockdown), and standing in the long queue for hours without food and water. Many of them visited twice or thrice just to get that money so to fulfill their basic essential needs. Livestock Disease: Livestock disease has hit almost all the intervention areas further exaggerating the situation. It is extremely contagious that already claimed lives of over 300 pigs/piglets, 50 goats, and more than 1000 poultry without any intervention from the concerned department. Only in Lakhimpur, Veterinary department field officers have started assessment. Inadequate support from ICDS/MDM: Though state government is advised to provide supplementary nutrition mid‐day meal/dry ration or Food Security Allowance whichever is feasible to all eligible children till such time their centers/schools are closed, only 5 ICDS centers in BTR intervention areas have distributed 2 KG rice to some of the children, which is inadequate. However, ICDS centers under Bordoloni Panchayat and Bhebali Gram Panchayat in Dhemaji have respectively distributed food items to 131 and 152 families altogether. Western Region: IGSSS in its direct intervention area in Madhya Pradesh – Khargone and Jhabua: Khargone Barwaha Khargone is the red zone as per the government announcement. One District Block of the good things, that a village marginal farmer, Mr. Gulabsingh supported 30 kg vegetables and 20 kg wheat to few homeless families. Jhabua Jhbaua During the lokdown, 3257 laborers have reached Jhabua from Gujarat, District Meghnager Kota and Rajasthan, and have been kept isolated from the family after and Rama health check‐up. blocks IGSSS field team In Jhabua is coordinating with Local govt to provide ration to the poorest and needy people. As part of this process, AADIVASI KISAN PANCHAYAT MAZDOOR SANGTHANS has requested our field team to distribute the food kits in the Jhabua disctrict. With this support, we could reach out to 150 families are from our target area, 8 villages. Total amount support is 2,53,500 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.