By Pallavi Sobti Rajpal | Deputy CEO
Dear GlobalGiving Community!
While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire globe, its impacts on public health, the economy and livelihoods have been disproportionately felt by marginalised communities, women, men and children in the global South.
In India, the immediate effects of the ongoing nationwide lockdown [promulgated by the government from March 24, 2020 as a preventive measure] were felt by daily wage workers unable to access basic needs of food and nutrition, forcing thousands of migrants in urban hotspots to start the arduous journey home. Meanwhile in villages, the apprehension of migrants returning home to limited work was compounded by the lack of protective measures such as masks and soaps, as well as access to markets for farm produce.
Right from the start of this pandemic it was clear that government relief efforts were never going to be sufficient and that civil society had to contribute their insights and experience as development partners. In this context, the Utthan team, supported by a network of 15000 village volunteers and leaders is reaching out to respond to urgent needs in 350 villages across six districts of rural Gujarat where it has been working for the past 40 years building local groups of women and youth, on livelihood security, access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, gender justice and conflict transformation.
In addition, all villages have seen the greater use of digital tools for communication, capacity building and livelihood support during these times of mandatory physical distancing. In an effort to build self-reliant village communities, Utthan decided that it would be best to promote and purchase local produce as part of their relief kits, be it sanitary napkins made by women’s Self-Help Groups or grains and vegetables produced by women farmers, at the same price they would get in local markets. 27 percent of the total relief package amount was infused into the local economy by applying the simple doctrine of local production and local consumption. An extremely important response from most of these women farmers was “I am feeling satisfied and happy that our grains will help many in my own village. Hence, this is a more valuable earning for me”
As of May end 2020, Utthan provided supported to 31365 familes acoss 193 viillages in 6 districts of Gujarat.
We are looking at strengthening resilience efforts for communities who have lost a lot!
PEOPLE IN NEED HAVE MULTIPLIED
WE REALLY NEED SUPPORTERS TO MULTIPLY TOO!
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By Pallavi Sobti Rajpal | Manager, Gender & OD
By Pallavi Sobti Rajpal | Manager, Gender & OD
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