CJP against Covid-19: Volunteers soldier on in Purvanchal Covid-relief material distribution going strong despite heavy rain and supply shortages
19, May 2021 | CJP Team
Covid-relief work in Uttar Pradesh’s Purvanchal region is continuing despite rains in the area. Every day, volunteers assemble and maintain a record of each Mohallah and Family Kit that is distributed among neighbouring communities of Dalits, artisans, labourers and Other Backward Classes (OBC), people who are so severely marginalised, they often fall off the State’s radar.
Volunteers and member of both organisations, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) volunteers and Gramin Vikas Sanstha (GVS), are working together to cover as many villages, towns in the area as possible, particularly in Rajghat, Mallah Basti, and Kila Kohna areas in Banaras district, the team has already begun to provide family kits.
The two organisations have many aligned goals such as improved health and livelihood conditions in local areas and prevention of violence against women and girls. The GVS with its volunteer base of around 80 people and financial aid, works with CJP to identify relevant areas for kit distribution.
As a part of CJP’s Covid-relief efforts, we are providing medical kits to people in villages and towns of Uttar Pradesh’s deeply impoverished Purvanchal region. Currently, CJP offers two kits: a Family Kit containing soap, masks and paracetamol strips, and a Mohallah Kit with an oximeter, thermometer, and other things for community centres. With your help, we will be able to maximise our outreach to some of the most marginalised people in the region. Donate now!
GVS Director Shamin Abbasi says, “I am positive this relief work will have a good effect among people. We are following CJP guidelines and, already, the pamphlets provided by them have been particularly well-received by people here. Villagers and townsfolk say they never came across such useful information.”
Abbasi says CJP’s Covid-literature may also treat the lax attitude among people towards the Coronavirus. Recent news about bodies floating across Ganga river has instilled fear among villagers. Similarly, GVS Programme Manager Tauheed Abbasi says condition in villages is worsening considering half the people cannot travel to hospitals and fewer still are able to avail treatment.
Currently, one Family Kit requires a funding of around Rs. 200 and one Mohallah Kit requires Rs. 10,440. Thus, while CJP Team member Muniza Khan says she cannot make drastic changes, she tries to adjust Family Kits and its supply to provide more effective aid. Villager Goraknath Yadav earlier approached CJP to talk about his wife, who was in need of an oximeter and other supplies.
“A lot of people come to us in groups of two or three individuals to collect family kits. At the time, they also tell us about their worries and ask about food as well. So, we are trying to make more Family Kits and trying to provide 10 masks in a package. As for food, it is becoming an issue because people have lost their livelihood recently. For now, we are concentrating on medical care first,” she said.
The economic crisis running in tandem with the Covid-crisis has made some villagers anxious about daily ration. However, Abbasi says the situation is not as dire as last year, when no one understood the scope of the pandemic. Volunteers continue to figure out a way to address these issues.
For now, the team substitutes sanitisers with soap due to shortage of supplies. GVS members report difficulty in procuring nebulisers and oximeters.
“Even paracetamol and vitamin C tablets are missing from the market. Normal people cannot avail these items. 95 percent of deaths seem to be happening due to lack of medicines and doctors,” says Abbasi.
CJP’s Family Kit contains soap, masks and paracetamol strips and Mohallah Kits are equipped with an oximeter, thermometer, and other things for community centres. Even these meagre provisions have received huge appreciation from Purvanchal residents.
“CJP is already helping with this relief work. If Prime Minister Modi, with his national-acclaim and CSRs also come forward like this, it will really help people on the ground,” says Tauheed.
Related:
CJP against Covid: Medical kits ready to be distributed in Purvanchal, UP
CJP combating Covid-19: Members continue mission to help vulnerable communities
CJP continues its fight against COVID in 2021
