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.”