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Following the lockdown declared by the Government on 22^nd March owing to Corona pandemic, the movements of tourists/visitors were gradually restricted. The owners of hotel industries shuttered their normal business in Kochi of Kerala state. “I was working there in a hotel namely, Donut Factory Hotel as the Waiter. My inquisitiveness for returning the native place in Puri district of Odisha to see my family members went high”, says an 18 years youth Sk. Asraf Uddin who is camped at the Temporary Medical Centre (TMC) in Palanka Panchayat, his own village.

Asraf’s father Jainul Uddin is a petty fish vendor at Brahmagiri daily bazar. Elder brother being an auto-rickshaw chauffeur used to carry the children to school and earns a minimal monthly remuneration. The yearly livelihoods of six-member family – parents, a brother and two sisters somehow gets managed. Last year, with much difficulty, before FANI, her elder sister could get marry. “The economic plight prompted me to supplement the family’s income in a dignified manner and destiny fetched him to join in a hotel at Palampally Nagar of Kochi, Kerala, only 3 months back travelling all the way from Odisha”, shared Asraf to CYSD’s field volunteer placed in Brahmagiri.

Following the nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Odisha Government declared that the migrant workers those staying in other states may register their name, if they want to return Odisha during this critical situation. Asraf registered his name online (Regd No – G5153141). Knowing the fact that one train would start transporting the migrant workers from Kochi to Odisha on 2^nd May, immediately he booked a ticket and boarded that particular train. On 4^th May early morning, the train arrived at Berhampur and along with other co-passengers, he was picked up by the Odisha Government Bus to Krupajal Engineering College at Bhubaneswar for Coronavirus infection testing. After medical test, a vehicle of Brahmagiri Block Office took him to the Quarantine Centre set up at his own Gram Panchayat, Palank on the same day and reached there around 12.00 noon.

“Today is the 6^th day of Asraf Uddin’s quarantine. He will continue to stay till 21 days at this quarantine centre. He is availing all facilities provided by the Govt. Two more returnees namely, Sukant Swain, an ex-serviceman who was stuck while returning home just after taking retirement from service; and Sk Ramjan Khadim from Hyderabad have also joined the Centre. A total of 90 migrant returnees have registered to stay at this centre. We are taking all possible precautionary measures for the safety of all inmates. Work distributions have also been made among the staff members”, said Trilochan Behera, the Sarapancha and TMC In-charge of Palank Gram Panchayat.

“Being in Palank, my own village, I am now in comfort zone, eliminating the pains I have born to cover up the long journey from Kochi to Palank and respiting here happily.  No more I will spend sleepless nights here. After medical testing, I have no fear of Corona attack. I am quite happy with the arrangements made at the center and will adhere the prescribed Covid-19 rules for the greater safety and security of my community too”, said sensible young boy, Asraf.

This disciplined behaviour of Asraf Uddin is indeed laudable which will show the right path to other migrant returnees quarantined at the TMC.

Migrants are less familiar in their new environment in which they temporarily live. They are prone to various social, psychological and emotional trauma in such situations, emanating from fear of neglect by the local community and concerns about wellbeing and safety of their families waiting in their native places.

During the outbreak of COVID-19, the restrictions imposed on routine activities as part of social distancing norms to prevent the spread of the disease, scores of migrant workers tend to move back to their native places. During the prevailing pandemic, many migrant workers used all possible means to reach their destinations. Many of them are however stuck at borders, including district, state and at national border areas. Most of them are dependent on daily wages for their living, and in times of such distress need sympathy and understanding of the society. Immediate concerns faced by such migrant workers relate to food, shelter, health care, fear of getting infected or spreading the infection, loss of wages, concerns about the family and anxiety. Sometimes, they also face harassment and negative reactions of the local community. All this calls for strong social protection.

Understanding the issues of the migrant returnees, the Government have set up temporary shelters i.e. quarantine centres / temporary medical centres in all Panchayats across for 21 days safe stay.

While trying to reach to their native places, the migrant returnees are being filled with anxieties and fears stemming from various concerns, and are in need of psycho-social counselling support. Therefore, they need to be treated with dignity, respect, empathy and compassion; their concerns and problems should be listened and understood patiently; the specific or varied needs of each person need to be recognised; they must be informed regarding this unusual situation and reassured that the situation is transient and not going to last long and normal life will be going to resume soon. Further, they require to be informed about possible sources of help and the support being extended by Central Government, State Government and Civil Society Organisations including health care systems.

Emphasis may be given on the importance of staying in their present location and how mass movement could greatly and adversely affect all efforts to contain the virus. They should be made realise about their importance in the community and their contributions for the society may be appreciated. This is the time to reassure them that even if their employer fails to help them, local administration and charitable institutions would extend all possible help. Out of desperation, many may react in a manner which may appear insulting them, so our obligations is to understand their issues and handle them patiently. If somebody is afraid of getting affected, we have to convince him/her that the condition is curable and can recover very soon. Most importantly, we require to remind the returnees that it is safer for their families if they themselves stay away for certain period; and instead of reflecting any mercy, we have to seek their support in the spirit of winning over the situation together.

When one of the Volunteers of CYSD asked Tulasi Behera, a differently abled girl of 21 years, about her well-being, she replied cheerfully, “The dry food basket jointly given by CYSD & Plan has become the saviour for us. The chapatti we made out of the wheat flour is quite testy. The survival kit support along with hygiene kit is so vital for our survival.  We are really grateful to both the organisations for standing behind us during this crisis”.

Tulasi, lives in Behera Sahi slum of Patharbandha under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area with her parents and a brother of 19 years. Her father used to maintain the livelihood of a four-member family through goat rearing.  While her mother does the household chores, Tulasi helps her father in feeding the goats, finding pasture land and collecting leaf throughout the day, rearing of goat being the only source of the family’s income.

During the course of interaction it was learnt from Tulasi that some other materials, like sanitary napkin and animal foodstuffs, even some financial assistance could have been included in the relief kit.  “Now, we are both physically and economically handicapped. It is too difficult on our part to feed the goats, being our last resource. Struggle for rebuilding the life will be a big challenge for us during this lockdown.” added ill-fated Tulasi.

The nationwide lockdown in India which started about 5 weeks ago has impacted around 40 million internal migrants’ livelihoods and the magnitude of internal migration is about two-and-a-half times that of international migration, says The World Bank Report ‘COVID-19 Crisis through a Migration Lens’.

Lockdowns, loss of employment, and social distancing prompted a chaotic and painful process of mass return for internal migrants in India and many countries in the world.Owing to Coronavirus pandemic in India, the desperate migrant workers have been trapped in lockdown. There had been rumours of train services restarting, and the workers had gathered defying rules of social distancing, putting themselves and others at risk.They demanded that authorities arrange transport to send them back to their hometowns and villages so they could be with their families. The police, instead, used sticks to disperse them.

In the western state of Gujarat, hundreds of textile workers protested in Surat city, demanding passage home. There was outrage in Delhi, when several hundred migrants were discovered living under a bridge along the Yamuna river strewn with garbage.

The above incidents have shone a spotlight the plight of millions of poor Indians who migrate from villages to cities in search of livelihood – and how the lockdown has left them stranded far away from home, with no jobs or money.Most moved from villages to work in the cities as domestic helpers, drivers and gardeners, or as daily-wagers on construction sites, building malls, flyovers and homes, or as street vendors.Whether living in shelters, sleeping on footpaths or under flyovers, the migrants are restless and are waiting for restrictions to be eased so they can go home.

The pandemic could exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities of the country’s refugees and internally displaced persons. Travel bans, closed borders and living conditions in camps all amplify the risks to migrants. This crisis is an opportunity for the country as well as the world to display empathy and solidarity with these groups.

It is right that our collective concerns are first and foremost for people who are at greater risk of dying from COVID-19. The Governments with the support hands of civil society sector, corporate and volunteers need to address the challenges facing internal migrants by including them in health services and cash transfer and other social programmes, and protecting them from discrimination.

Sunamoni Nali, a 63 years old tribal woman of Ranginiguda village in Chaulmendi GP under Mathili Block of Malkangiri District lives with her husband Bhagban Nali, one traumatised divorcee daughter of 38 and two granddaughters.

During the lock down, when Sunamoni was asked about her wellbeing by the Volunteer of CYSD, she replied, “I came to know that a novel virus named Corona has started infecting the people in our country and whoever comes in contact with Corona will die. Owing to this critical situation the Govt has declared lock down for till 3^rd of May. All the villagers have to obey the government rules and nobody will be allowed to go outside unless there is exigency. Even the people will not go for daily work either in forest or in farm land until the withdrawal of lock down period. But, the government will provide ration of three months in advance to all ration card holders of the village”. Further, she added, “Getting this news, I was too much worried as to how I will manage food for 5 members with the ration support of 3 persons; and even without any income during this lock down. Thereafter, I rushed to a person known me in the village to enquire about the matter and get the doubt clarified. The person informed me about the community kitchen arrangement made by the Government, where we can get two square meal per day per person. But later, I was shocked when I got to know that my daughter’s family members name have been rejected from the community kitchen list for unknown reason.”

Following the lockdown, the Sunamoni family was forced to sever distress as labour being the only income source was debarred. She bravely managed feeding her 5-member family with the Government support which was insufficient for them. On other the side, her family members’ name were deleted from the community kitchen list, though they deserved it. The matter was inquired by the volunteer of CYSD, Mr. Kamarlal Patla where he found that the father of existing Sarpanch, who acts as the proxy Sarpanch of Chaulmendi GP, had deliberately erased the names of some deserving persons of the Panchayat and cunningly included the names of some favoured persons those  supported his son during last election campaign. The matter was informed to the concerned Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) and demand was made for inclusion of the real needy persons in the community kitchen beneficiaries list. But the PEO was disagreed to change the beneficiaries list as it was already uploaded in the government website. Here, the fact was that not only Sunamoni family members’ name but also many deserving persons’ name from different villages under Chaulmendi Panchayat were missed in the community kitchen beneficiaries list.

The volunteer brought the issue to the notice of   CYSD’s Child Development Programme Office based in  Malkangiri for a solution. With proper advice, immediately the volunteer together with the leaders of Chaulimendi village Youth Club made a demand before the PEO & Sarapanch that if the case will not be solved by them here, then the Youth Club can lodge an online petition with the Hon’ble Minister of State, PPG&P, Government of India for intervention to solve the grievance. This tricky strategy compelled the PEO & Sarapanch to include all left out families of Bandhaguda, Gajolkonda & Nuaguda villages having households of 40, 35 & 54 respectively under the community kitchen program beneficiaries list.

Moreover, to the credit of Chaulimendi Youth Club leaders, they were engaged in distribution of survival kits and hygiene kits to the vulnerable households including Sunamoni, jointly being supported by CYSD and Child Fund India and organising different awareness camps in the community. Besides, they are now engaged in the process of collecting data of all left out PDS card holders in the Panchayat, caused due to non-linkage of Aadhar Card number, which will be submitted to the Panchayat for regularising the entitlements to the left outs.

The lockdown owing to outbreak of Coronavirus has impacted hugely the landless labourers, returnee migrants, physically and mentally challenged, and people who are under most vulnerable situations. Neither are they being allowed to go outside nor getting any job for livelihoods. Meanwhile, CYSD’s intervention has reached to 1030 households in 48 villages of 13 Gram Panchayats in 8 Blocks of 4 resource poor districts, like Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkanagiri in South Odisha. CYSD’s response to Corona in terms of addressing the food and nutritional requirements of these risk prone households by providing Survival Kit support has created a sense of acceptance among the people. They feel that they are not alone in this battle, some others are also with them.

A 68 years old women with severe alignment in legs, Tulasa Saunta of Beheraguda village in Lima Panchayat of Kundura block, says “Being an aged lady, I cannot walk far. I am so happy to get rice, sugar, oil, Suji, Dal, etc. as relief items at my home. Now there is no deed of going outside during this lockdown. I will stay at home and spend my time in cooking food for me. My thankfulness to the Relief Team of CYSD for this timely support.

Through initiating around 738 awareness campaign and demonstration progrmmes, CYSD team has spread the message of how to fight Covid-19 and developed better understanding among the people about the impact of the virus in 1128 villages of 5 blocks in Koraput district engaging 34 volunteers and team members. 12005 HHs were got involved in these campaigns and awareness processes. “Spreading right kind of information, our team has now got confidence to combat against fearfulness and the panic situation created among the people because of the pandemic”, says Ramesh Chandra Swain, Team Leader – Livelihoods Programme in Koraput. 

The above programme activities during this lockdown created an opportunity for the team to identify the most vulnerable people/households in each Panchayat and a data base of these households has been submitted to the Panchayat for future reference. More importantly, the households those were left out from getting the government entitlements are being supported by CYSD and connected with government schemes as well. Besides, various community workers, PRI members have appreciated the initiatives undertaken by the Organization including the criteria followed towards beneficiary selection and the support being provided to the poor people in the form of commodities, added Abhisekh Mishra, Coordinator of Livelihood Programme.

The Sarpanch of Goudaguda GP in Laxmipur block said, “I feel proud that I am associated with CYSD and the resource provider, Ford Foundation who have come forward to support my people, especially those who are left out from PDS and Pension scheme because they don’t have Aadhar Card to show. It gives me enormous satisfaction, when I see smile on the faces of people at this difficult hours”.

Ward Member of Tentulipadar village in Narayanpatna Block of Koraput shared, “One destitute old women of our village having no access to PDS or Pension assistance, was living with the kind support of the villagers. Now having this survival kit (dry food) support, she will cook her food and not depend on others during this lockdown period”.

Danari Jani one of the mentally retarded women of Dahiguda village in Mujanga GP under Dasmantpur Block of Koraput District was supported with survival kit. People of the village saido, she has been left out from all Govt. programmes because of having no documents to show her identification proof. Her only son who had been migrated to other State got stuck due to lock down. This survival kit will help her to surpass the hardship in the absence of her son.

The people’s response to CYSD’s support and their acceptance to the Team have indeed offered immense strength and morale boost to carry forward the organisation’s mission during this lockdown and beyond.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of lockdown by the Central Government as well as the State Government, the rural poor suffered the most. CYSD in collaboration with Ford Foundation under its Integrated Farming System (IFS) program intervention reached out to 1030 ultra-poor households having widows, physically and mentally challenged persons or people who have not received any benefits under government schemes and programs. The organisation did so by identifying the poorest of the poor in its operational areas and provided them with some minimum support for their survival.

In Koraput district, from among the recipients of the relief materials, one such recipient was Ira Jani from Kumbharguda village of Lima Gram Panchayat in Kundura Block.  “There is no one to look after me in my family.  I am alone. I came to know that government relief of Rs. 2000/- has been transferred to my Bank Account, but due to lockdown I could not go to the Bank to withdraw money. In this crisis, people from CYSD came to me with the relief kit containing rice, sugar, oil, suji, dal, soya bean, etc. I can never forget their help and support. It is really a saviour for me”, expressed Ira Jani with happiness.

Another recipients of the survival kit, Bhima Khila of Kollar village of Boipariguda Block says, “I belong to Komara caste. As I am having no land to cultivate, I used to migrate to Srikakulam in search of work. Though I am not interested to travel such a distant place, but I have left with no option owing to lack of regular work in my locality. I returned from Srikakulam just a month before travelling by a truck. As soon as I reach in my village, I did my health check-up at Boipariguda Hospital. Thank the God, I was safe. But, due to lockdown I had no money in pocket, even I didn’t get any Government support, accessing daily needs was next to impossible. I struggled hard to feed my four-member family a full meal. At that period of hardship, CYSD team gave me flattened rice, suji, soya bean, Dal, oil and many more commodities. I feel happy with the support as my family members will not sleep hungry. A plentiful thanks to CYSD for supplementing food at the time of my suffering.”

Nationwide lockdown to combat Coronavirus Pandemic has great impact on the lives and livelihoods of all section of the society. It has made the lives of the migrant labourers – skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled quite miserable. Though National as well as the State Governments have appealed to all the employers to retain their workforce and provide them basic needs for their survival till the withdrawal of lockdown and the situation comes to normalcy, but the employers are hardly coming forward to rescue the labour force. Even the employers having international repute are compelling them to go back home during the lockdown period. This baffling situation has become the daydream for many migrant labourers stranded at their workplace towns, some are with their family members.

Rashmi Himirika, a tribal young girl of Kurumpeta village in Karlakana Gram Panchayat of Rayagada District was privileged to acquire skill training in Industrial Sewing Machine Operation under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and had got placement in one of the reputed apparel industries in Bhubaneswar Industrial Estate. After 4 days of the lockdown, her employer sent back Rashmi to her village along with other workers by a private vehicle. When she reached home, even her own community didn’t allow her to enter into the village without undergoing Coronavirus Testing. Knowing the incident, the community frontline workers came forward to support her. She was sent to the Karlakana Gram Panchayat level ‘Quarantine Centre’ for 14 days isolation. When Rashmi was asked, whether she would like to go back Bhubaneswar to resume her work after lifting of the lockdown, she replied in a worried voice, “I do not want to restart my work at Bhubaneswar, but I have no other choice. There is hardly any apparel industry in my home district and unluckily none of the tailoring units here are using industrial sewing machine too”.

The case of Rashmi gives enough indication that skill training has to focus on skills considering the demand of local market, but not just to feed skilled labourers in industrial sites of other states. At the same time, primary skill has to be focused to promote self-employment among youths arresting redundant migration.

The days are gone, when the impression of feminism was amused by the male dominated society. Remarkable and self-sufficient women and promising young girls are not confined within the boundaries set by the society.

“We hardly want to restrain our strength, diligence and willpower to help others remaining inside the four walls of the house”, shared 16 years old Barsharani Palei, Mentor of Vir Bahadur Sashtri Chid Club, Nishaposi, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj. 

Following the lockdown directives of the Government, some warriors or real heroes are proud of working outside home for the safety and security of others in this pandemic situation due to COVID-19. These great frontiers – doctors, policemen, nurses and sweepers/ cleaners, are dedicatedly working for the people round the clock. Of course, they deserve appreciations and salutations. Apart from these, there are lot more unsung warriors and heroes who are working relentlessly, but remained behind the screen, not recognised nationally nor put into the limelight of the media. Some women Self Help Group (SHG) leaders and the mentors of Child Clubs have created massive awareness among their group members, peers, family & community members and the relatives to combat outbreak of Corona using digital platforms. Such an exemplary episode has come to the forefront in the operational areas of CYSD where Child Centred Community Development Programme has been in operation for last several years.

Women SHG leaders and the mentors of Child Clubs have stepped out of their homes and put their best efforts towards preventing the spread of Corona in their community. Around 3400 children including 1700 young girls were reached out through dissemination of community videos developed by the mentors and IEC messages circulated among their peers, families and relatives for preventing the outbreak of Coronavirus through Child-to-Child approach. Both the tribal women SHG leaders and the child mentors have used the social media platform like WhatsApp.

“We have developed small videos on how to take precautionary measures and also explained how to maintain social distancing, avoid public gathering, stay at home, keep safe distance from other people, catch up with friends and relatives virtually instead of in person; using mobile phone”, said 15 years old Sonali Suchismita, the mentor of Rugudibeda Child Club, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj.

Going one step ahead, Haimabati, a 14 years old girl, Mentor of Laxmi Narayan Child Club, Talapada, Saharapada block of Keonjhar district proudly said,

“Through videos, we have been sensitizing people to wash their hands with soap at least for 20 seconds at regular intervals, and to wear mask while stepping out. We have forwarded all those videos and IEC materials digitally to our peers, family members and relatives with a request to follow the advisories, and even we have demonstrated social distancing and hand wash practices in our communities to make people aware”.

With devoted spirit towards fair means of gender equality, 48 women SHG leaders from Thakumunda block could reach about 4000 women SHG members through peer education and sharing of right message in their groups helping them prevent from the spread of Coronavirus. The women leaders were very much satisfied for such noble work.

“We are really thankful to CYSD for their intervention in our area and the initiatives taken to empower the women groups. As of now, not a single case of coronavirus is reported in our district as well as in the neighbouring district of Mayurbhanj”, says Ms. Hemalata Mohanta, leader of Maa Gayatri SHG of Siyalizoda in Saharapada block of Keonjhar district.

Undoubtedly, the efforts of these women SHG leaders and the child club mentors have proved them as frontline soldiers and community change heroes – the unsung warriers. CYSD has been closely associated with such community based organisations (CBOs) in building their capacity and development of leadership skill in 95 interior tribal villages under 17 Gram Panchayats of Thakurmunda block in Mayurbhanj district and Saharapada block in Keonjhar district of Odisha. In this process, about 13400 members from more than 800 CBOs have been empowered.

Besides, awareness generation involving the unsung warriors during lockdown, the organisation is also engaged with distribution of survival and health & hygiene kits to the socio-economically distressed families, facilitation of community kitchen & quarantine centres and tracking of returnee migrants in collaboration with the District/Block administration and the local government at the Gram Panchayat level.

CYSD organised a Webinar on “Managing Self, Staff and Environment: Maintaining a Stress Free Health Life” on 22 April 2020 between 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm to help prepare the staff members to fight COVID-19 Pandemic intelligently.

The Webinar deliberated on how to take precautionary measures during Coronavirus outbreak – social distancing, hand washing and staying at home are the only ways to remain away from the virus; and how important is practicing Yoga,  proper exercise and taking nutritious food. Besides, focus was given on a leader, who needs to talk to his team and listen to the team regularly. The staff should acquire new technology and learn the marketing skills to excel and sustain in the changing situation. Further, uncertainty brings fear and anxiety to one’s mind automatically and navigating the pandemic requires better understanding about the unusual life experience and learning to accept it. So balancing of all priorities is need of the hour. Apart, four important things i.e. physical wellbeing, balanced diet, sufficient water intake and protecting self plays critical role during pandemic. However, strong willpower and commitment can help one to overcome the difficult situation.