According to Census 2011, there are 6,49,481 villages in India. Villages are considered as the backbone of the country, with 70% population of the India as villagers. Major occupation of the villagers include agriculture or villagers employed as daily labourers in the nearby district headquarters. Keeping the recent phenomenon of migrations to cities aside, the normal day-to-day lifestyle of people living in the rural context major confines to the village boundaries, at the maximum extend spreading to district headquarters. This is one of the main reasons why the number of corona cases are low in a 1.3 billion population country.

Though there are very less likely chances of virus spread in the rural areas – as long as no outsiders enters the village – the villagers are the most affected people due to lockdown, completely losing theirlivelihood. Their financial cycle depends on: for farmers (crop seasonand harvest season) and for labourers (day-to-day work). Lack of transportation facilities is severely affecting the harvested produce (all those produce demands immediate consumption unlike paddy crops). Labourers who are working on daily basis sitting idle at homes. Furthermore, the prevailing daily sustenance uncertainties and the post-lockdown employment uncertainties affecting the people psychologically.

DHAN Foundation through its various thematic programmes – Kalanjiam, Vayalagam and Jeevidam – installing hope in the families residing in the rural communities through it various initiatives during the lockdown.

DHAN’s Rural Regions

Adilabad

DHAN’s Adilabad region is working with 3966 families in 257 villages in nine blocks, where the members are employed in various livelihood activities viz., wage labors, petty shops, drivers, mechanics and bamboo artisans.

Grocery kits constituting items like Tomato, Green chilli, Red chilli Sugar, Tea powder; Dal, Oil, Brinjal, Onions, Potatoes and Salt packet were distributed to 793 families across the region.

Aurangabad

DHAN’s Aurangabad region is working with 3062 families (253 Kalanjiam groups) in five locations. Kalanjiam members stitched masks and distributed in the villages of Vaijapur and Khulatabad. Distributed rice and wheat in urban areas of Khultabad region for beggars and roadside peoples. Federation staff are connected with the member families over phone ensuring their well-beings and creating awareness and preaching preventive measures.

Beed

DHAN’s Beed region is working in nine locations – Dharur, Wadwani, Parali, Shirur, Patoda, Manwat, Selu, Bhoom and Ashti – having 1028 SHGs associating with 13816 members. In Shirur location, kalanjiam members are employed in masks stitching. So far 3000 masks were stitched and sold.

With the collective collaboration of the individual donors, community and kalanjiam members, DHAN Foundation has provided ration (worth Rs. 500) to 89 poorest and vulnerable people in the patoda location, 26 poorest and vulnerable people in the Ashti location and donated 1000s of masks, soaps and sanitizers to DHAN member families as well as bankers, police officials and sanitation workers.

Chitradurga

DHAN’s Chitradurga region is operating in five blocks – Challakere, Hiriyuru, Molakalmuru, Holalkere and Hosadurga – covering 300 villages for a period of three years in Chitradurga district under Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL) Programme. CFL staff are in touch with leaders and members over phone calls knowing their well-beings, informing them of the government entitlements and ensuring all our member families received the same.

Dindigul

DHAN’s Dindigul region is working in 11 blocks, with nine federations, covering 49,000 families. Nearly 60% of the members in the region work as agriculture laborers; they all lost their livelihood due to lockdown. The regional team has distributed 34,000 masks to the Kalanjiam members across the region. Based on the need-based demand from the Kalanjiam families, regional team has distributed groceries and rice to 6700 needy Kalanjiam families through FPO and KTL.

Gaya

DHAN’s Gaya region is working with 4950 families. 50 to 60% of the male members (husband /son) of our Kalanjiam families are working in various states viz., Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ranchi, Bengaluru etc., involved in various livelihood activities like manufacturing industry, cloth shop and labor work. Due to the lockdown, 30-40% struck at their workplace. DHAN staff has 1287 families locked down in the eight different states, knowing their well-being and livelihood status. As a part of building immunity, Kalanjiam members are regularly using turmeric, garlic, ginger and pepper. They are also consuming Honey with Tulsi leaves in warm water.

Gundar Region

DHAN’s GundarRegion is working in 14 blocks of four districts (Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Sivagangai), associatedwith nearly 46000 families through Vayalagam programme since 15 years.

In the region, 4674 face masks have been distributed. Through the Community Call Centre, the region has reached 1769 families. Disinfectants – Turmeric water, Neem water and Bleaching powders – were sprayed in 28 villages covering 2731 households. Provided KabasuraKudineer for 570 families in five villages.

Hyderabad Region

DHAN’s Hyderabad region is working in four districts viz., Yadadri Bhongiri, Nalgonda, Sangareddy and Malkajgiri (GHMC), working with 6500 families. Narayanpur FPO in Bhongiri location has distributed vegetables at reduced prices to 250 Kalanjiam and Vayalagam members’ families. Grocery kits as well as lunch for five days was provided for 15 vulnerable families in Malkajgiri location.

Kalburgi Region

DHAN’s Kalburgi region is working in Aland, Afzalpur, Sedam, Jewargi, Yadrami, Chittapur and Yadgiri. Most of the members being employed as wage labourers, they are facing financial issues. Through Community Call centers, staff are with leaders and members, updated the members with the government entitlements on timely basis. Initiated Participatory Health Appraisal (PRA) at all the locations in the region. Field staff are ensuring all the eligible members are having MGNREGA Job Cards, and through Community Call centers disseminating information about the MGNREGA works commencements in their respective panchayats.

Kanchi Region

DHAN’s Kanchi region is working in four locations viz., Walajabad, Perungalathur, St. Thomas Mount, and Pallavaram. Kalanjiam members employed in stitching face masks and relief materials distribution bags, generated Rs. 75,000 income by stitching 12,000 masks and 3000 cloth bags. Through KTL, Kanchi region distributed grocery kits (dal, oil, soap, tamarind, turmeric powder, jiggery, masala powder, garlic, fenugreek, mustard, jeera, black channa, pepper and salt) worth Rs. 13.5 lakhs benefitting more than 1511 families. Participatory Health Appraisal has been initiated in four villages covering 409 members.

Khammam Region

DHAN’s Khammam region is working in four mandals – Kothagudem, Palvancha, Chandrugonda and Julurpadu – where majority of the members are employed as agricultural laborers and daily wage laborers. Vegetable kits constituting eight different varieties of vegetables were distributed in Chandrugonda location for 28 families covering 76 members.

DHAN’s Vayalagam leaders and members are associated with Mother Teresa Youth Committee in Venkatayathanda village, wherein the committee has distributed vegetables and groceries to 250 families covering 524 members.

Kolar Region

DHAN’s Kolar region works predominantly in water conservation activities. The major occupation in the region is agriculture and livestock. With the financial contribution from Vayalagam members and leaders, Kolar region has distributed 7348 masks and 250 sanitizers in all its locations. FPO in Kolar region has facilitated the transportation of four tons of vegetables from farm fields to the doorsteps of apartments in Bangalore city.

Due to lockdown, hundreds of migrants from other states were struck and residing in the surroundings of Kolar block. Movement leaders have taken initiatives and one village a day (in rotation mode) are cooking food and feeding the migrant workers.

Madurai Rural

DHAN’s Madurai rural region is working in 14 locations covering four districts, – Madurai, Sivagangai, Pudhukottai and Ramnad – associated with 36000 members (2610 groups). 80 % of our Kalanjiam members are daily wage earners, agricultural laborers, rope making workers, brick kiln workers, MGNREGA workers, petty shops and daily vendors like fruits and vegetable sellers. With the collaboration with Loyal Textile unit and NABARD, masks stitching has been commenced creating livelihood opportunity for more than 40 Kalanjiam members. So far, in Madurai rural, 18,000 masks have been stitched and distributed to the respective collaborators.

Mysore Region

DHAN’s Mysore region is working with five rural locations and one urban location. 10000 masks have been stitched and distributed in the region. 20,000 masks stitching is on-going scheduled to be distributed in the May first week. Masks and sanitary items such as phenol and bleaching powders were distributed to 3000 families in Periyapatna and Nanjanagudu locations.

Munger Region

DHAN’s Munger region is working in four locations –Tarapur, Asarganj, Kharagpur and Dharhara – since 2015 with the CSR support from ITC MSK. Most of the members are agricultural laborers and wage laborers. Foreseeing the unemployment and financial crisis, Munger team has revised FY 2020-21 budget, to renovate 20 Pynes within the first quarter, generating 15,000 man days for the labour within the first three months

Nanded Region

DHAN’s Nanded region is working in three districts – Nanded, Hingoli and Latur – covering 8 locations. Nanded region is having 715 Kalanjiam groups, working with 9286 members. Most of our members are working as agricultural laborers, construction workers, farmers and petty shops. Kalanjiam members have stitched 2000 masks and distributed to members, police officials, primary health centers and quarantine centers. Online crowd funding campaign has been launched for implementing relief activities.

Pambar Region

DHAN’s Pambar region is working with 1.25 lakhs families in 14 locations. 4150 masks have been distributed in the region to our members, to primary health centers and to field health workers. In addition to this, 30 Kalanjiam members stitched 6850 masks and sold them for income generation. Groceries kits worth Rs. 2.45 lakhs have been distributed to 510 families in the location. Through Community Call center, field staff are having constant interaction with all the members in 14 locations; on an average 150 calls were made on daily basis. In addition to this, 20 separate calls were arranged between SUHAM doctors and our members for individual counseling.

Due to lockdown, farmers are unable to transport the produce. FPOs in the region had regularized procurement of coconut, created market linkage for chilly and vegetables, procuring the tamarind from our members on need based.

Poondi Kalanjiam Region:

DHAN’s Poondi region (Kalanjiam) is working in seven clusters consisting 31 Panchayats (55 villages). Poondi region is having 215 Kalanjiam groups working with 3274 families. Our members are employed as daily wage laborers, agricultural laborers, house maids, drivers, vegetable vendors and shop keepers. Regional staff having been in constant contact through phone with all the members ensuring the entitlements benefits to be reached to all the eligible members.

Poondi Vayalagam Region:

DHAN’s Poondi region (Vayalagam) is working in six cascades consisting 27 panchayats (38 villages. The block is twenty years old block having 43 Vayalagams, 140 Agricultural Finance Groups (2247 members) and one Farmer Producer Organization (917 members). Most of the members are employed in agriculture and allied activities (cattle and goat rearing). The other major occupations of the members included factory workers, tailoring, house maids, idly shops and petty shops. Regional staff having been in constant contact through phone with all the members ensuring the entitlements benefits to be reached to all the eligible members.

Ramanagara Region:

DHAN’s Ramanagara region is working in two districts – Ramanagara and Bangalore rural –having 47 clusters, 1481 Kalanjiams covering 24152 members. Since the outbreak, regional team have been actively engaged in Information dissemination – flip charts, posters – to People staff, Region Team and members through WhatsApp groups. At location level, staff are engaged in ensuring the entitlements to reach the members. Participatory Health Appraisal has been initiated at the region level. Kudur Federation, one of the federation in the region, distributed 500 Cotton Reusable masks and 500 Kg Small millets to 500 kalanjiam members.

DHAN’s Ramanthapuram region is having four Kalanjiam federations, working with around 8000 poor families in the district. Most of the members are agriculture farmers and agriculture labourers. Region team is interacting with the Kalanjiam / Cluster / Federation leaders over phone, insisting them to stay safe at houses. At federation level, for maintaining hygiene, members are engaged in spraying water mixed neem leaf powder and turmeric mixture in the streets. To boost the immunity, villagers are drinking Kashayam – an herbal drink prepared using Turmeric powder, Ginger, Neam leaf, Pepper and other spices. Regional staff engaged in supplying 26 varieties of vegetables at 30 per cent subsidy in the region.

Sirsi Region

Due to lockdown the farmers are unable to sell their produce. DHAN’s Sirsi FPO has facilitated the transportation and marketing of 20 tonnes of water melons and Banana. Ensuring the livelihood of the vegetable farmers, following all the covid-19 guidelines, regional staff arranged for weekly vegetables stalls.

Solapur and Osmanabad Region

DHAN’s Solapur and Osmanabad regions includes eight locations in six blocks (Taluka) – South Solapur, Barshi (Vairag), Mangalwedha, Tuljapur, Lohara, Washi and Solapur Urban – having 806 SHGs, working with 651 Beedi worker families, 139 maidservant families, 5520 agricultural laborer families, 3000 farming families and 2910 families employed in various livelihoods viz., vegetable vendors, fruit vendors, petty shops and stationery shops. In the region, DHAN Foundation has distributed grocery kit and sanitizers to 242 families. The grocery kit included 1 kg Tur gram, 1 kg Sugar, 1 kg Rice, 1 kg Wheat Flour and 1 kg Oil. Online crowd funding campaign has been launched inviting the individual donors to come together to support the relief activities.

Thiruvallur Region

DHAN’s Thiruvallur Region is an integrated Region having seven people institution, two FPOs, two Vayalagam federations and three Kalanjiam federations. Through the Thiruvalangadu FPO, DHAN Foundation has distributed 600 grocery kits worth of Rs. 8,10,00 and 1000 Kabasura Kudineer packages worth of Rs. 90,000 to all our kalanjiam groups across the region. Each grocery kit is worth Rs. 1350 with 15 grocery items and 10 kgs of rice.

Vellore Region

DHAN Foundation’s Vellore region (Rainfed Farming Development Programme) is working in Gudiyatham Pernambut and Natrampalli, having 528 groups covering 7648 Families. Most of our members employed in Beedi rolling, Matches making, Handlooms, Incense sticks making and daily and construction wage laborers. Regional team have been in constant communication with the members knowing their well-being, informing them about the government schemes and ensuring the entitlements to reach all the members.

Vijayapura Region

DHAN Foundation’s Vijayapura Region is working in two district of northern part of Karnataka viz., Vijayapura and Belagum covering two blocks – Indi and Gokak. The region is having 369 SHGs working with 5214 families. Regional team has distributed 7000 masks to our member families. Health PRA on COVID-19 have been conducted in two blocks covering 250 members.