The days are gone, when the impression of feminism was amused by the male dominated society. Remarkable and self-sufficient women and promising young girls are not confined within the boundaries set by the society.

“We hardly want to restrain our strength, diligence and willpower to help others remaining inside the four walls of the house”, shared 16 years old Barsharani Palei, Mentor of Vir Bahadur Sashtri Chid Club, Nishaposi, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj. 

Following the lockdown directives of the Government, some warriors or real heroes are proud of working outside home for the safety and security of others in this pandemic situation due to COVID-19. These great frontiers – doctors, policemen, nurses and sweepers/ cleaners, are dedicatedly working for the people round the clock. Of course, they deserve appreciations and salutations. Apart from these, there are lot more unsung warriors and heroes who are working relentlessly, but remained behind the screen, not recognised nationally nor put into the limelight of the media. Some women Self Help Group (SHG) leaders and the mentors of Child Clubs have created massive awareness among their group members, peers, family & community members and the relatives to combat outbreak of Corona using digital platforms. Such an exemplary episode has come to the forefront in the operational areas of CYSD where Child Centred Community Development Programme has been in operation for last several years.

Women SHG leaders and the mentors of Child Clubs have stepped out of their homes and put their best efforts towards preventing the spread of Corona in their community. Around 3400 children including 1700 young girls were reached out through dissemination of community videos developed by the mentors and IEC messages circulated among their peers, families and relatives for preventing the outbreak of Coronavirus through Child-to-Child approach. Both the tribal women SHG leaders and the child mentors have used the social media platform like WhatsApp.

“We have developed small videos on how to take precautionary measures and also explained how to maintain social distancing, avoid public gathering, stay at home, keep safe distance from other people, catch up with friends and relatives virtually instead of in person; using mobile phone”, said 15 years old Sonali Suchismita, the mentor of Rugudibeda Child Club, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj.

Going one step ahead, Haimabati, a 14 years old girl, Mentor of Laxmi Narayan Child Club, Talapada, Saharapada block of Keonjhar district proudly said,

 

“Through videos, we have been sensitizing people to wash their hands with soap at least for 20 seconds at regular intervals, and to wear mask while stepping out. We have forwarded all those videos and IEC materials digitally to our peers, family members and relatives with a request to follow the advisories, and even we have demonstrated social distancing and hand wash practices in our communities to make people aware”.

With devoted spirit towards fair means of gender equality, 48 women SHG leaders from Thakumunda block could reach about 4000 women SHG members through peer education and sharing of right message in their groups helping them prevent from the spread of Coronavirus. The women leaders were very much satisfied for such noble work.

“We are really thankful to CYSD for their intervention in our area and the initiatives taken to empower the women groups. As of now, not a single case of coronavirus is reported in our district as well as in the neighbouring district of Mayurbhanj”, says Ms. Hemalata Mohanta, leader of Maa Gayatri SHG of Siyalizoda in Saharapada block of Keonjhar district.

Undoubtedly, the efforts of these women SHG leaders and the child club mentors have proved them as frontline soldiers and community change heroes – the unsung warriers. CYSD has been closely associated with such community based organisations (CBOs) in building their capacity and development of leadership skill in 95 interior tribal villages under 17 Gram Panchayats of Thakurmunda block in Mayurbhanj district and Saharapada block in Keonjhar district of Odisha. In this process, about 13400 members from more than 800 CBOs have been empowered.

Besides, awareness generation involving the unsung warriors during lockdown, the organisation is also engaged with distribution of survival and health & hygiene kits to the socio-economically distressed families, facilitation of community kitchen & quarantine centres and tracking of returnee migrants in collaboration with the District/Block administration and the local government at the Gram Panchayat level.