Monthly Archives: May 2020

The Action Group in its regular meetings, led by CYSD, deliberated several issues covering the management of quarantine centres specially the JAGRUTI experience in Kandhamal district and the ABHIYAN experience in Jajpur and Kendrapra districts. ABHIYAN’s pilot has deepened facilitatory engagements with Panchayats in both the districts. CSOs feedback and recommendations were shared with the State Government.

The redefined ‘Ekanta Nivas’ has got some traction by the rest of India. SAMARTHAN in Madhya Pradesh has done a translation and brought out an expanded version in Hindi.

Besides, CYSD’s meeting with CSO leaders at the National level on capacity building of civil society organisations, issues of migrants, the critical role of panchayats, issue of restructuring MGNREGA and the problems across the country especially in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi provided insights to help guide the Odishan civil society organisations in initiating their response to the Covid-19 appropriately.

Key Suggestions

• Communities to be empowered to address the challenge of receiving back the migrant returnees with compassion and efficiency.
• The TMCs should be well equipped and run in a manner that women, children and the transgender do not face any abuse. Further, the TMCs also need to be made resident friendly.
• People’s access to their entitlements to be ensured to help them overcome the crisis created by COVID-19.
• Job demand under MGNREGS should be transparent giving the Sarpanch complete power to receive applications and provide receipts against them, to ensure that all those who want work are able to register their demand.
• There is urgent need to develop local, regional and state level plans to address short term, medium term and long term challenges emerged due to COVID-19.
• Regular dialogue/interface with CSOs should be institutionalized at the State, District and Block levels as a space for feedback and opportunity for mutual support.

Indians are 65 days (9^th week) into the national lockdown and are consistently putting up a strong fight against the pandemic at hand. While we are all victims of this catastrophe and have been affected by it in some way or the other, there exist more vulnerable sections of society that are bearing the disproportionate brunt of these unavoidable measures. The elderly, daily wage earners, waste/rag pickers, employees in the informal sector, labourers, slum-dwellers, low-income groups, sex workers, and stray animals, etc. are some members of our community who have been fighting a tougher battle.

To help the marginalized communities, on the one hand, we see the government implementing strong and necessary measures and deploying relief funds; on the other hand, several corporates, business leaders, influencers and celebrities have donated generously to initiatives across the nation to extend a hand of support.

Undoubtedly, the local government has played an important role in containing the spread of the coronavirus, especially managing the migrant returnees at the quarantine centres or temporary medical centres set up at the panchayat level. Panchayats across India have realised that they have to shoulder significant responsibilities beyond just providing relief during this unprecedented crisis, which should take the spotlight as one of the unsung warriors.

But what is new about this moment is that gram panchayats have been forced to step up despite their lack of preparedness for a disaster of the order unleashed by the coronavirus. Hopefully a majority will successfully respond to the challenges. Even partial success offers an opportunity – and hopefully an impetus – for a new beginning. The gram panchayats are learning by doing and working in ‘putting things together’ (Jugaad) mode to beat the odds stacked against them.

Going beyond gram panchayats, in such perilous times, it is important to highlight the exemplary work being done NGOs, community-led initiatives, social activists and self-help groups (SHGs). These organizations and individuals have been working round the clock to help our community in such unprecedented times and have shown great enterprise in helping ease the distress of marginalized communities during this lockdown.

While we sit in the comfort of our homes feeling grateful for the economic safety nets we have built to get us through these 65 days, let us take a moment to thank all those ‘unsung heroes’ who have been working day and night to help the poor who are struggling to earn a single meal a day.

Among the frontline, Corona Warriors are the doctors, nurses, police, NGO workers, community resource persons, volunteers, Waste Collectors, farmers – who supply dry food including vegetables, and even newspaper delivery guys – who quietly slip papers through our door despite the lockdown. More importantly, while were are staying indoors to fight Covid-19 there are journalists and news delivery partners, who come out every day to do justice to their profession and deliver reliable, trustworthy information at your doorstep.

Indeed, it is time to recognize and applaud the efforts being made by the unsung warriors, mainly because we cannot afford to have them fail.

 “Being a daily wage earner, having two dependents – wife & a small child and staying at home during this Corona related lockdown period, without any job at hand, is extremely difficult to manage the family. So far I have not received any Government support, like ration in the absence of a ration card. In the meantime, receiving direct cash assistance of Rs. 5000/- from CYSD through bank transferred to my account is really blessings in disguise.  With this money, I purchased some dry food and consumable items for coming two months from the local market paying Rs. 3972/-. Balance amount of Rs. 1028/- will be spend in purchasing vegetables items in phased manner. I am really grateful to CYSD for standing behind us at this critical hour next to FANI”, says Bachan Mallik to CYSD’s volunteer Shri Manoj Mallik.

Bhimkund, a tourist place, is located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, which has been included under the child development programme area of CYSD. Golapa Kalapadia, a sponsored child lives in Bhimakuda village with her father Khatu Kalapadia, a daily wage earner, two elder sisters and one younger brother. The children lost their mother few years back. Father, Khatu single handedly used to manage the family with much difficulties and high responsibilities. But, the family situation became worsen when her father was unable to work anymore due to serious health issue. Even they do not possess any farm land for cultivation. The situation compelled her two elder sisters to manage the family by doing daily lobour as well as making plates out of Sal leaf.

In the month of March, the government declared lockdown to fight outbreak of COVID-19. Following which the normal movements and activities got stopped. Golapa’s family income source also affected severely. After a few days, the family being a ration cardholder, the Government supported them with some rice and money.  But, they could not go out to buy other consumables items due to closure of market place.

Meanwhile, the news on distribution of relief material to the sponsored children’s family jointly by CYSD and Plan India spread across the area. Getting the information, Golapa’s father rushed to the relief distribution camp in the locality and received the survival kit along with hygiene kit. On reaching home, when her father opened the packets, they saw a list of dry food and consumable items containing rice-5 kg, dal-2 kg, flattened rice-2 kg, sugar-1 & slat-I kg in one packet;  and a list of  sanitizers like, washing powder-400 grams, 3 pieces of soap, a mask and one packet of sanitary pad in another bag. Taking a long respite, Golap’s father thanked CYSD & Plan India for the help during acute crisis. “Do you know Papa, all these essential commodities are sent to us by my Sponsor Parents through CYSD-Plan. Today, I feel so happy. Truly, the survival kit is no less than  ‘Sanjeevani’ which will give us new life during this lockdown situation. We can survive with the food material for a month or so”, said Golapa with her emotional tearful eyes. “Yes, a friend in need is a friend indeed”, Khatu added.

16 years boy, Nadara Badra had never imagined that he would shoulder a heavy financial burden of eight-member family after the death of his father, 2 years back. At the age when his mates enjoying school life, he was in search of an earning source for the survival of his family members. His mother’s widow pension benefit is inadequate to feed three sisters, two brothers, a blind elder father. His elder sister works as a daily wage labourer to support the family expenses. Unfortunately, she was mentally, physically and socially harassed in a love affair and became a teenaged mother of an abandoned child. This added further burden on the family too. Finding no other way of earning, Nadara started a small business of vending handmade snacks mixture in a local hat near his village Kendujhiani to maintain the family.

Nadara’s family live in Kendujiani village of Thakurmunda block in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.  Thakurmunda is one of the operational areas of CYSD where the child development programme has been implemented with the support of Plan India. Nadara being a Sponsored Child (SC) under this project, his progress is regularly monitored by the programme team.

Owing to the declaration of lockdown by the Government to combat outbreak of COVID-19, opening of local hata (market), selling and buying of any kind of products got restricted. Local administration has been monitoring the lockdown closely. “We faced acute problem in arranging two meals a day. All means of subsistence were ended. We did not have any reserve funds to purchase essential commodities at higher costs from the market then to survive for a few days. Our pauper condition had never familiarised us in buying essential commodities in Kg rate. We found it difficult to stay at home in lockdown too. Since our is a kuccha mud house with one room to stay, it was impracticable for 8 members to maintain physical distancing”, shared  Nadara with tears rolling from eyes.

At this grave situation, CYSD team reached Nadara to support his family with survival kit (dry food and consumable items) and health and hygiene kit.

“I was waiting when the lockdown will remove and we will restart to work for wage earnings. Our struggle against starvation is now at the extreme point.  Thanks a million to CYSD & Plan India for rescuing us and helping to overcome the extreme hunger with the food packet for next 15 days. Corona lockdown will be a memorable occurrence in our life time” said Nadara with folded hands to the relief distribution team.

Being a young Community Resource Person, Mansai Saunta works for Asana and Kerimity Gram Panchayats of Kundura block, Koraput, one of the tribal operational districts of CYSD. During the lockdown period owing to Covid-19 pandemic, Mansai was actively involved from selection of beneficiaries to distribution of relief materials under Integrated Farming System program, in partnership with Ford Foundation.

Respiting from relief work, Mansai shares, “COVID-19 has affected the whole world. Our region is no escape, not much because of Corona pandemic but due to the lockdown declared by the Government. Following the outbreak, people in our place were in fear and doubt of life; the ultra-poor and people from the lower income strata suffered miserably; and the health and human resource became standstill. But, the timely support of CYSD in terms of dry food & consumable packet along with hygiene kit helped them survive for two weeks or so”.

Followed by the relief work, Mansai has been actively involved in organising number of awareness campaigns in both the Panchayats on maintenance of social distance, hand wash practice, use of mask, staying at home, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness around to combat COVID-19.
“I am indeed thankful to CYSD team for giving such a platform to work as a frontline soldier, helped me learn from them and be a part of the noble work meant for the people in need,” says Mansai delightfully.

A 42 years old self-inspired guy, Umachand Baral, having rich experience on community mobilisation jumped into outside to fight COVID-19 outbreak while the Government announced lockdown across the nation. His prime motto was to protect all innocent tribal people including women, men, children who do not know about this deadly virus and its formidable consequences.

While interacting with Umachand, it was learnt, he did not have much knowledge about Coronavirus and its far-reaching effect, but his prime intention was to be among the people of Kudumuluguma GP in particular and Khairiput Block of Malkanagiri in general with whom he has spent most of his valuable time to bring some changes within them.  Be it awareness, empowerment, protection of child rights or even child marriage, he has proved his involvement with utmost sincerity at the ground zero.

During initial phase of the pandemic, after getting a virtual orientation, he stayed with the community and discoursed among the community people about not to be panic and be a doctor for self-protection by acquiring appropriate information and right knowledge first. Starting from Block to Gram Panchayat or village everywhere Umakant is required by all sections of his society without whom the work is incomplete.  Through his personal endeavour and with the co-support of the Child Development Project, he has been able to make aware thousands of community people regarding how to practice hand washing, physical distancing, face mask wearing, be safe at home, avoidance of public/community gatherings, etc. He knew, there is no medicine or vaccine to get rid of Coronavirus but only awareness and above practices can save people at large.  He says, “Every day is a new day for me and all of us. CYSD-ChildFund have given me a wonderful opportunity to serve the poor and marginalised people in particular and the community at large”.

Undoubtedly, Umachand is no less than a warrior of Conora. He is a source of inspiration for many young volunteers and community resource persons during this Pandemic situation.

“The outburst of COVID-19 and following it, the lockdown has caused a lot of distress for the rural people, especially for the landless, physically and mentally disabled, people without ration card, migrant labourers and old ultra-poor people” says Gupta Prasad Gouda, a Community Resource Person  from  Bhaluguda village of Ramgiri Gram Panchayat of Boipariguda Block, Koraput. Gupta is working as a CRP for 12 revenue villages of two Panchayats namely, Mathapada and Doraguda under his native block, one of the operational areas of CYSD.

During the first week of April, CYSD planned to distribute some relief materials to the socio-economically poor and distressed people of the aforementioned GPs, following certain criteria.  “We were thinking how to reach out to those people in distress at this difficult times and commission the relief distribution work of my organisation. With the support and cooperation of local ward members and Sarapanchs of both the panchayats, we did a survey in the villages for finding the right beneficiaries. Without any hassle, we distributed the survival kits (dry food and consumable items) and health & hygiene kits to the selected community people as per the criteria set”, shared delightful Gupta.

“From the beginning of post relief work until now we have been conducting awareness campaigns on the importance of maintaining social distance, use of mask, hand wash practice demonstrations, staying at home and keeping hygiene and cleanliness around”, he added.

In fact, standing behind the people in need at this critical hour has solved much problems in the ground. People felt very happy receiving the relief materials and realised the importance of   awareness campaigns organised for them. It sustained them for few crucial days. “Since we were deeply involved in the relief work, the village people now have accepted us as their rescuer during crisis. In community, a sense of respect and recognition has been established for us. Now the people feel, CYSD is trustworthy for them. Corona has paved an opportunity to get connected with the people in distress and I am overjoyed to be of any use for them at the hour of their need too”, says Gupta with full contentment.

Certainly, this confidence level of Gupta witnesses that at any point of time if the organisation will go and ask the community for piloting any kind of innovative projects in these two panchayats, they will come forward to cooperate us.

The Forum in its regular meetings, being convened by CYSD, deliberated several issues including the returning migrants, management of quarantine centers and the urgent need for collaboration between Government and Civil Society at the ground. A Memorandum with CSO feedback and recommendations was shared with the State Government. A model protocol for managing quarantine centres (Ekanta Niwas) was provided. ABHIYAN, a Member NGO of the Forum has initiated a regional hub in the Jajpur district to support various Panchayats in Jajpur and Kendrapara districts in running the Centres through a proper Dincharya (day long activities schedule). This offers a model for other districts as well.

A 28 years old community health worker, Laxmi Mohanta puts her best efforts in preventing the spread of Corona in the tribal village of Taramara in Thakurmunda block, the operational area of CYSD in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha.  Taramara being her own village, she has been gathering detailed information about people who are home quarantined in the village and others who could be vulnerable to this deadly virus.

The villagers say, Laxmi stands as a pillar of strength and great support for 38 socio-economically poor and distressed families of the village by supplying food kits and medicines to them”. During this pandemic, she has been continuously conducting awareness programmes, educating people especially the mothers and youth group members in the community on social (physical) distancing, washing of hands with soap frequently and wearing of face mask while stepping out.  Besides, she is also engaged in distribution of ration for three months to the poor and distressed families, facilitation of community kitchen & quarantine centres and tracking of migrant returnees with the active support and guidance of Block Administration and the Gram Panchayat.

Laxmi reflects, CYSD has inspired and empowered her with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitude through imparting series of training programs, which is now helping her to deliver services as an active frontline soldier in the face of global pandemic outbreak. As a community health worker (ASHA), she follows a string of demanding jobs by addressing the comprehensive health care needs of 202 families with population strength of 1058 in the village. The incidence of child and maternal death in her village has been notably reduced to zero. She has significantly brought improvement in health situation of children, mothers, and adolescent girls through intensive door-to-door awareness drive.

To her credit, Laxmi has been recognised by the District Administration as the best ASHA worker. Besides, for her health service knowledge she was awarded with a trophy and cash prize of Rs.2000/- at State level Quiz Competitions organised jointly by the All India Radio, Cuttack and the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha.

“I convey my sincere gratitude to CYSD for building my capacity in terms of skills and knowledge required to facilitate the healthcare services, like adolescent health care, social education, child health care, pregnancy care, administering safe delivery, care of lactating mother, growth monitoring, public health counselling, etc. I am now able to perform my duties in a desirable and impactful manner ensuring safety and security of the people of my village”, says Laxmi proudly.

The deed of Laxmi indeed inspires other health workers in the locality to become silent warriors during this Covid-19 pandemic and go a long way in serving the community.