COVID 19 posed a critical challenge more so for the marginalized Korku tribe community of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh. The hunger flayed and employment declined and so the income and the household food security. The most affected were the children below 06 years already facing the threat of malnutrition. Then the families in reverse migration as they lost employment at destinations.
It turned out to be a disaster that needed to be mitigated through genuine humanitarian relief. Spandan considered to respond with food & nutrition to severely malnourished children, high risk pregnant mothers and micro enterprises for teenage girls prone to migration and local employment. Hence a range of programs were conducted to help the families in need We are also planning to help teenage tribal girls and single women set up micro enterprise.
The initiative began in April 2020 has continued till date.
This initiative began right from the time the lockdown was clamped in March 2020. 5203 SAM & MAM children across 120 Korku tribe dominated villages in Khalwa (Khandwa district) and Khaknar Block (Burhanpur district) were outreached. The distribution was done with support of Anganwadi workers and the COVID 19 protocols were adhered to. The families were counselled to follow the protocol as well. As te supply chains remained disrupted and Anganwadis remained closed. The Month wise distribution was as follows:
| Month/Year | Children reached | Type of support |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | 1000 | Dry ration ( Rice/lentils/oil/soaps) |
| May 2020 | 1403 | Dry ration |
| June 2020 | 1000 | Dry ration |
| July 2020 | 100 | Ready to cook khichdi mix |
| August 2020 | 100 | Dry ration ( Lentils/ jaggery/peanuts/ Dalia/oil/sugar/biscuits/soaps) |
| November 2020 | 900 | Dry ration ( Lentils/ jaggery/peanuts/ Dalia/oil/sugar/biscuits/soaps) |
| December 2020 | 700 | Dry ration ( 3 Lentils/ jaggery/peanuts/ Dalia/oil/ /popped rice) |
| Total | 5203 |
95 terminally ill and physically challenged patients were extended a special nutrition package that included; date palms and protein powder, eggs and sprouted grains in December 2002. One more round of support is scheduled in January- February 2021.
This initiative had two purpose: to provide immediate wage employment in the form of grains and essentials and develop neighborhood land and water assets. The payments in terms of food items was extended as an incentive to voluntary labor that people contributed. Range of land and water development works were accomplished and wage earners received the food with dignity and happiness of having developed assets that would prove to be a livelihood support for them.
Total of 2392 man days of work was voluntarily contributed by the community to develop 28 land and water resources.
Wage earners worked enthusiastically and could get incentive in terms of 2 kilograms of rice, quarter liter of oil and half kilograms of pulses on daily basis.
The developed structure will conserve water and increase the crop yield.
| Month | Nature of Work | Villages covered | Man-days |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2020 | Well Deepening | Buti/Dhama/Ambada/UdiyapurRaiyyat/Develikalana/ Patalda/Ranhai, | 518 |
| Land Bunding | Dhama/Buti | 141 | |
| Farm trenches | Badikheda (Khaknar) | 96 | |
| River de-silting | Awaliya Nagotar | 128 | |
| December 2020 | Water outlet | Dabhia | 221 |
| Land Bunding | Dabhia | 103 | |
| Land Bunding | Indrakheda | 116 | |
| Land Bunding | Buti | 48 | |
| Land Bunding | Devlkalan | 65 | |
| Land Bunding | Kotwariya Mal | 100 | |
| Sack bag check dam | Dabhia / Kotwariya mal/ Dagrkot / Khategaon/ mohniyadhana | 423 | |
| Loose Boulder Check dams | Khorda/Ambapat /MohniyaDhana | 201 | |
| Pond Deepening | MohniyaDhana | 56 | |
| Gully Plug | MohniyaDhana | 26 | |
| Contour Trenches | MohniyaDhana | 150 | |
| TOTAL | 2392 | ||
This supplementary but very essential support was extended to most food insecure families including ones with malnourished children, daily wage earners, ones compelled to seasonal migration, ones with single woman/ physically challenged as head of the household. The purpose was to help them access essential micronutrients and diversify their diets. 1377 were assisted through this program.
The support included provision of vegetable seeds like gourds, beans, tomatoes, spinach, chilly and brinjal and so on. 556 families in July 2020 and 821 families received seeds in October 2020.
956 Korku tribe farmers were helped to grow cultural crops like Kutki (small millet), Sawa (Indian Barnyard Millet), traditional paddy and oilseeds. This is supposed to reduce the food crisis at household level.
This program has focused on women and girls who had returned from migration and are prone to migration. The program helps such women with willingness to set up their nano enterprises and reestablish livelihood in the village itself. By now 52 such tribal women entrepreneurs have been supported. The enterprises include –motorcycle repairs, running grocery shops, vending artificial jewelry, selling Paanipoori, garment trading, poultry shop, selling Pooja articles, daily use plastic items, selling footwear, omelet shop an so on. The program has now focusing on skilling and re-skilling to have more ventures and more women coming forward to do it.
During COVID 19 pandemics free mask distribution was undertaken. In 120 villages across Khalwa and Khaknar blocks all the Anganwadi workers and helpers were provided with high quality masks. 600 masks were distributed.
To cope up with chilling cold 50 blankets were provided to most needy aged and destitute people at remote locations.
03
Feb, 2024
It’s a recently started initiative that began with post-COVID trauma faced by a large number of tribal girls in their reverse migration. They faced so many difficulties way back that they were terrified. They say they could not even get a sanitary pad on their way back as all shops and doors were closed.
Read More
25
Feb, 2019
Smoking is injurious to health and so is the smoke produced from the traditional chulhas(Stoves). The traditional chulha uses wood for cooking. They not only pollute the environment but also causes various respiratory diseases and lungs infections. Tuberculosis, low birth weight, heart diseases, still birth are the other diseases that can happen due to these. Coughing is the most common among the women, pregnant women and children using traditional chulhas at homes.
It is the time to make these women aware of the harmful effects of using these traditional chulhas and so we have come up with introducing SMOKELESS chulhas. These are designed in such a way that it uses less wood, cooks more efficiently and produces less smoke. We are making women aware to make these chulhas at home.
Support Campaign
17th Jul, 2019
Spandan Samaj Seva Samiti GSN 1716 shares Income Tax Return on www.guidestarindia.org
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