“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.