Relief Work

The Alliance raised INR 3 crore CSR funds to provide vulnerable people and families with essentials during the COVID-19 lockdown crisis. Ration kits were distributed to the most remote and marginalized communities. Community frontline workers and public health workers were provided with protective gear. As a result, the grassroots collectives and their leadership strengthened in the process of supporting their community members. 

In the South, the Alliance was approached for further help due to loss of jobs during the pandemic, exacerbated by the loss of crops due to heavy rains, leading to families starving. Again, using CSR funds, rations and medicines were distributed with a focus on the old and sick. 

Mental Health support was provided through a Pan-India multilingual helpline for persons from GSM communities. Additionally, Mental health experts helped community members across the alliance by understanding their anxieties and advising on coping with stress.  Information about the government support system for mental health was shared along with training women on COVID-19 precautions. Sensitisation programmes were organised resulting in media highlighting new and increased incidents of GBV on GSM and sex workers during and after the lockdown. Training on Gender and life-skill were carried out for adolescent girls, to cope with the new normal created due to pandemic.