During the second phase of relief work, CYSD Programme Team at Koraput extended humanitarian support to aspirational MGNREGS workers with survival kits. About 2400 job seekers in 8 operational blocks of the district were covered with relief distribution under Integrated Farming System (IFS) programme being supported by Ford Foundation. The relief work witnessed many vulnerable migrant returnees were receiving the relief kits.

Laxmi Saunta was one of the migrant returnees and recipient of relief kit. She shared while asked by CYSD community mobilizer, “Workers who had been migrated to Andhra Pradesh from Koraput now have returned to their native places by two buses. While returning back, we were directed by the police to stay in Sunki boarder for one night and then from there we came to Koraput and later straight way to Kundura Temporary Medical Centre (TMC) where we were quarantined for 8 days. The Panchayat took care of all our basic needs at the TMC (quarantine centre). We got normal food three times a day. That was a better shelter for me to respite after a long journey from AP and felt as if I am at home”.

On receiving the relief kit, happy Laxmi further said, “the relief kit will let her to have food for 7 more days. Meanwhile, I should explore job opportunities under MGNREGS. Being a job cardholder, soon I will give an application to make use of my card for getting individual labour work at the Panchayat. I foresee and hope under the MGNREGS there must be job openings to overcome distress till the situation comes to normalcy’.

The relief work indeed has helped the poor and vulnerable people in more than one ways in these remote hinterland. And for a sustainable livelihood the returnee migrants have found a ray of hope in MGNREGS work, not just Laxmi, but many such migrant returnees are looking forward and many have already applied for individual work. It is also evident that several columns are coming in the newspaper how more and more migrants are being engaged in MGNREGS works during this pandemic. Certainly, this effort will made the panchayats and villages self-sufficient for its people to survive. Taking proper care of the village environment, and available resources can ensure to lead a sustainable livelihood of people in the villages. Besides, setting up a clear and robust tracking system at each panchayat level can check the migration issues and minimise the rural-urban gaps.