Pritigandha Giri, a young woman Community Mobilise, being associated with the Child Development Programme of CYSD in Malkanagiri, knows that “Covid-19 is not just a pandemic for sorrow, frustration, economic crisis and global slowdown; it is an opportunity for new way of living, adoption of new technology and self-reflection”.

Responding to Covid-19 outbreak, CYSD has put its effort to show innovative pathway on how to manage the Temporary Medical Centres (TMCs) effectively with a new name ‘Ekant Nivas’ engaging the migrant returnees throughout the day productively.

With the support from Gram Panchayat and Block administration, Pritigandha has been deeply involved in managing Dalpatiguda Panchayat TMC under Mathili block of Malkanagiri district from the day it was set up in panchayat high school. A total of 46 men and 11 women migrant returnees along with one boy child have taken temporary shelter for isolation in the centre.

Malkangiri being the southernmost district of Odisha is sharing border with Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Chhattisgarh. The tribal district is very prone to migrant labour in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kochi, Bengaluru, etc. The outbreak of Covid-19 and following the lockdown declared by the government compelled the migrants to come back to their native places.  But, they did not have other way than joining the TMCs arranged at their Panchayats for self-isolation, as per the Government advisories.

Dalpatiguda TMC was equipped with beds, drinking water and toilets, electric supply along with a set of accessories, like racks, dustbins, mosquito mat, bucket and mug for use by the migrants individually, even for entertainments, a sound system along with mike was made available.

Pritigandha puts her best effort to make the migrants feel at home paying regular visits to the centre and spending time in counselling them. Her daily works include ensuring timely supply of good quality of food to the migrants, keep the kitchen hygienic, cleanliness of toilets and surrounding with the support and cooperation of the Sarapanch, PEO and Ward members.

Moreover, she was ensuring physical fitness and mental health of the migrants through conducting exercises and yoga including health check-up and medication; and skill & aspiration mapping of migrants and exploring opportunities for their future employment. Practices of prayer with yoga and exercises in the morning and evening and reciting of patriotic songs helped the inmates to keep free from stress and undue panic and gave a sense of mental happiness. Appropriate information dissemination by her on COVID-19 packages declared by both the governments, entitlements and job open ups at Gram Panchayat level through MGNREGA has created new hopes among returnee migrants. Importantly, she also helped a lot in record keeping of migrants at the Gram Panchayat.

Mr. Damu Nayak, the Sarapanch of Dalpatiguda GP says, “The rich experience of CYSD on Disaster Management made our TMC unique at the Block level. We will continue extending all our support and administrative requirements to the organisation as and when required. I am really proud of CYSD and Child Fund India for their joint support and cooperation in fighting Corona.

Further, Madan Mohan Singh, PEO, Dalpatiguda GP said,  “CYSD is doing commendable work not only in managing the activities of TMC and skill mapping of migrant returnees but also ensuring livelihoods of Migrants through MGNREGS connecting them in government schemes and programmes” .

Now, CYSD is in the process of installing five wash stations in Dalpatiguda TMC through which people can use both sanitizer and water without using hands. This technology will not only help the migrants at the centre but also more than 120 students after opening of this school.

“Managing TMC is one of the best experiences in my life. Listening to and solving day to day challenges of migrants, especially women and children gives me a sense of satisfaction. I find the TMC, a shelter which helps the migrants to respite and repair their mental and physical health and restore their skills for better livelihoods”, shares Pritigandha.

Bikas, a 7 years boy from Pangam village, returnee from Telangana with her widow mother – earning livelihood as a wood cutter, expressed his interest to learn more songs and prayers at the TMC and within 6 days’ time how he has learned “Ye Mere Watan ke logo”.

This model TMC has not only created good ambiances in the mind of tribal migrants but also bestowed faith of block administration on CYSD Programme team. Like, Dalpatiguda TMC, the team has been monitoring 21 such TMCs in 9 Gram Panchayats of Mathili, Khairiput and Korkonda blocks in the district.