The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared coronavirus a pandemic. In India, despite all the preparedness and war-like promptness to safeguard against the pandemic, several lives have been lost, and hundreds of individuals have tested positive. Also, India has a larger concern to worry about. Its population size and density vis-a-vis the level of general awareness, preparedness and facilities available to treat an ailing section just does not matchup.

To bridge this gap, Caritas India, along with its partners, have been working directly with the vulnerable sector and have assumed the responsibility to spread awareness among the communities and provide them with required handholding support on major aspects of hygiene and safe practices.

Since March 23rd, 5725 families were supported with Education materials, Masks, Sanitizers, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Kits, Food Kits, Meals etc to the tune of Rs. 22,30,000 through our 16 partners. Caritas India also mobilised funds from CSR partners to respond in Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, and Tamilnadu for Sanitation kit, food kit and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

Currently, the whole country is facing lockdown, wherein no mobility is permitted unless given special passes. However, the partners were active in the field much before the lockdown and were able to reach out to the community in various regions in spreading awareness around COVID 19. Various medium and means were used to spread awareness such as distribution and use of posters, pamphlets, banners, social media, public announcements etc.

In North East region, some of the parishes spread awareness through one-to-one phone calls with each parishioner regarding Coronavirus and safe practices. Circulars were also issued by few dioceses to be read by the Parish Priests and preachers in different prayer groups and masses. Awareness workshops were also conducted in the project areas, integrating it with the ongoing project activities. Some of the staff were also involved in door-to-door awareness campaign. Awareness workshops and campaigns were also organised to maintain cleanliness and promote safe practices by demonstrating hand-washing techniques and stressing the importance on wearing masks properly and maintain social distancing.

Other than spreading awareness on COVID-19, partners have also been engaged in distribution of masks and sanitizers in the project locations. Various women groups and tailoring students have engaged themselves in making masks due to its unavailability in the market. Around 4,28,850 (Approx Half a Million) masks have been distributed to Government hospitals and communities across India. Handwashing points have also been put up on the side of the streets.

Post lockdown period, Caritas India and partners through effective approaches of its key pillar of Dialogue have got in touch with various stakeholders such as Government Hospitals, Municipal and District Administration, Local Panchayats, ASHA workers and CSRs to continue its efforts with deeper impact. As a result, even amidst strict regulations and limitations, through the approach of Volunteering and Sharing Communities the staff and the volunteers have been able to distribute sanitation kits – consisting of sanitizer, soaps and masks and food kits – consisting of raw/cooked food materials to the vulnerable and extremely poor communities such as slum dwellers, street dwellers who live on city peripheries. Till now, Caritas India has reached around 28351 families through its partners and 10751 families are fed on a regular basis all over India by our Partners.

Inspired by the initiatives of Caritas India and partners along with the community have also initiated various good practices to fight COVID-19. As a key approach of Empowerment Animation approximately 42488 youth and village leaders have been a part all over India in various awareness programs through the use of technology, IEC, etc because of which with the help of its partners in most of the villages these members are helping in strengthening social distancing at the village level by blocking the entrance of their villages to restrict the mobility of the people and have stopped the entry of strangers to the village.

Several case stories across the country emphasises that the communities at their family levels are ensuring members wash their hands properly once they come from outside/market etc. Community have also started keeping vigilance on the people coming from out of town and taking necessary steps for the same.

BEST PRACTICES AS A PART OF RESPONSE IN THE LAST ONE WEEK OF LOCKDOWN BY CARITAS INDIA & ITS PARTNERS

• WORK FROM HOME arrangement have been done by 90% of Partners.
• Leaflets were printed & distributed to aware community about n COVID-19.
• Regular mock drills for awareness by task force was done before lockdown.
• Awareness through PA systems of community religious spaces.
• All governments helpline & district /block control room numbers are made available to task force members for help of any suspicious patients in community.
• Distribution of relief materials, mask and Instructions on hand wash at all levels.
• Helping in getting money to persons holding labour card as per the support of the State Govt.
• Helping persons to get money through govt. Projects NREGA
• SHG women volunteering to prepare masks.
• Logistic Support to state runs Quarantine Centres.
• Provided masks to hospitals due to acute shortage
• Through electoral means, using video conferencing for both informal chats and scheduled meetings while working remotely.
• Regularly sanitized our office and community centres
• Ensure availability of sanitizer and mask for all field, office staff and volunteers
• Collecting ration packets and food packets from local donors and distributing among needy families and people
• Ensure health check-up of people who came from other cities/states/countries
• Information Dissemination about government compensations and other useful information related to CORONA PANDEMIC through different mediums of communication.
• Supporting for issuing curfew pass to street vendors
• Authorities has given passes for 2 ambulances and applied for 2 more to purchase and reach to the places. The volunteers are given pass for their 2 wheelers.
• MLA, Councillor at the local level helping them and assisting in the intervention.
• SHG leaders guiding the needy people towards the food centres run by the government and are coordinating with the local councillor.
• Rag Pickers Family are being given ration as per the need’s assessment reported by the Annapurna committee that identifies the need for food kits at the field. There are 8 committees in the areas of Delhi NCR facilitated by the Partner.
• Food Distribution on a regular basis as an action of community kitchen.
• On site actions in collaboration with police and army units to help with the distribution to avoid commotion.
• PPE used by everyone for prevention
• Volunteers have been mobilized to support in the distribution and maintaining social distance including police, community leaders, journalists, judges, advocates, Staff of other NGOs and local people.
• Psychosocial support to the people at risk. Organized in different parts of the district like,

1. Kairos Kannur
2. Krupa counselling centre iritty
3. Bindhu Peravoor
4. Tom augustine kanichar
5. Shamsudheen mattannur
6. Reshma koothuparamba

• 40 litters of sanitizer produced with the assistance of SHG’s of COD.
• Break the Chain Promotion at more than 50 places
• Private and KSRTC buses cleaned at Bathery Wayanadu.
• Kept water tank of 500 litter in 4 places for the break the chain promotion. Apart from tank washbasin and sanitizer were placed in these areas.
• Awareness creation on COVID-19 at Ballarpur railway station with the support of Railway CHILDLINE staff.
• Food distributed for Destitute People around public places `at Railway Station.
• Masks and soaps distributed in the slums and awareness given.
• Volunteers are identified and guided
• Cooked food is provided for the hungry with the support of Police.
• Food kits are prepared for the distribution, with 5 KG Rice, 1 kg Dal, 1 litre Oil, 200-gram chilli powder, 500 gram Sugar, 200 gram