External Response
Transforming Awareness:
NIRMAN’s first and immediate response was to educate the rural Adibasi communities on the transmission risks of the virus in the wake of COVID 19 outbreak in 7 districts of Odisha. We organized community based awareness platforms (mostly through IEC materials) including demo about prevention, hygiene, social distancing, and Do’s-Don’ts to be followed to keep away from infection. We also cautioned the people against the spread of fake & unrealistic news that only complicates the situation further.
In-home assistance of Food relief kit & safety essentials to most Vulnerable families:
The intention behind the measure was to provide the immediate relief to vulnerable groups and communities those are most affected by the pandemic directly & indirectly. NIRMAN reached out to such needy families of Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Balasore districts with dry ration and safety essential kit including few other items of daily necessities including cleaning materials like soaps, sanitizers, detergents etc that could last them for at least one month. We ensured the last-mile delivery of essential items to reduce the possibility of more infection.
Reaching out families having MAM & SAM children:
During our course of action, we assisted 272 families having children diagnosed with high vulnerability like SAM(Severe Acute Malnutrition) & MAM (Moderate Acute Malnutrition), with nutrient-rich child’s intake and dry rations. Besides this, our team members including volunteers regularly followed up the immunization programmes and health services for pregnant & lactating mothers.
Supporting safety kit to the frontline workers engaged in ground:
As an expression of our gratitude to the Corana warriors like the local administration personals and AWW, PEO and volunteers engaged in the essential services, we distributed more than 95 safety such kits to the frontline workers in the Kandhamal district.
Besides, NIRMAN’s Programme Director along with the other NGO’s representatives, Volunteers, PRI members and Media persons participated in several Skype calls, WEBINARs with Minister of Food Supplies and Consumers Welfare, Govt. Odisha mobilizing the relevant govt platforms (‘Mo Sarakar’) for necessary interventions.
NIRMAN also participated in various forums and networks, social media to address the various issues raised during the Covid-19 and the lockdown period. Different challenges of the migrant workers, MGNREGS execution, local Covid 19 quarantine centres etc. were discussed during these forums for relevant action.
