While the sudden outbreak of Corona has made the world suffer in many ways, Odisha is no exception to this. The pandemic, in particular, has made the lower strata of the society the most vulnerable. The poor people’s food security is completely in haywire.

In Koraput district, Kailash Patra, a 30 years young Community Resource Person, while delivering the relief materials (food items and other essential commodities) to the poor and distressed families of Kumbharguda village in Kundra block, jointly supported by CYSD & Ford Foundation, an old woman with tearful eyes and relief packet in hand told him,

“I have received 3 months’ advance pension amount at a time supported by the Government under old age pension scheme, but I am finding no way to purchase the food items from the local market or haat for survival. But, because of you, I could receive the much needed immediate support at my door step.  God bless you, my son.”

In mid of April when CYSD decided to distribute some survival kits to the most vulnerable and socio-economically poor families in 2 gram panchayats of Kundra block where there exist 20 hamlets including revenue villages with 8000 households, it was too difficult and challenging to identify about 100 such poor families with limited physical presence of staff members.

At this critical situation, Kailash from Jantaput village of Massigaon Panchayat of Kundra block came forward in close association with the concerned two Panchayat functionaries, Anganwadi Workers (AWW) and ASHA members and worked hard in finalizing the beneficiaries list, venue and date of distribution in the presence of PRI members.

“Since the outbreak of Corona, with the support and guidance of CYSD team members, I have been closely involved in the community and organizing number of awareness campaigns and sensitizing people through demonstration to practice  handwash frequently, maintain social (physical) distancing in public places, like PDS distribution centre, water fetching points, MGNREGA work sites, community kitchen centres, farm fields, etc and staying at home more often, catching up with friends virtually instead of in person”, says proud Kaliash.

Kailash, having matriculation education, was associated with CYSD as an education volunteer initially for 3 years. And later since 2005 he has been involved as the Community Resource Person (CRP) in the intervention of Integrated Farming System (IFS) programme of the organization.

The heroic efforts put by hundreds of community resource persons, like Kailash in fighting Corona outbreak at the ground is praiseworthy.