Covid Tsunami hits India.
By Meghana Raveendra
Due to the current crisis in India, the focus of our blog will now again be mainly on kantharis who are suffering and yet still empowering others.
In this post we shed our light on Bharat who is amidst the crisis, trying to do relief work for Dalit and Tribal families in Maharashtra.
The second Covid wave is hitting India like a tsunami. On a daily base, new but sad world records of fresh cases are being set. Currently, India has more than 3 million active corona cases, out of which 25% are in my home state, Maharashtra where the healthcare system was already struggling severely.
According to the Covid-task force, the increase in deaths has been caused by delay in treatment due to lack of hospital beds and inadequate facilities in smaller clinics. Additionally, there is a drastic shortage of oxygen.
Amidst the chaos, Bharat Wankhade – a 2018 kanthari participant and founder of the nonprofit organisation mudita, has been diligently working with his team to provide support to residents of remote areas of Amravati and Dharali districts of Maharashtra. Since the first lockdown happened in April 2020, they have been working continuously. Here a link to a blogpost about his work a year ago https://www.kanthari.org/corona-blog-day-9-02-04-2020/
Being a Dalit himself, Bharat is intrinsically driven in his work to help other Dalits, migrant and tribal families in remote villages of Amaravati district so they can access equal educational opportunities.
Dalits and tribals belong to the lower castes. In former times they were called “the untouchables”. According to the Indian constitution, caste-based discrimination is punishable. But still, Dalits and tribals experience neglect and abuse on a daily base. In such crises they are especially vulnerable; they feel forgotten.
I had a short talk with Bharat to understand the situation in the rural areas of Amaravati. I could sense a feeling of disappointment and helplessness. The area where he works is severely affected as the ongoing pandemic has caused the loss of livelihoods of most of the people in these communities.
These areas are so remote that even ration support that was declared a few weeks ago has not reached them yet. Schools are being converted into basic quarantine facilities. But to access medical support for emergency covid cases, one must travel to the town.
Maharashtra is facing a complete lockdown as of now. Essentials are available only between 7.00 am to 11.00 am. People are not allowed to move around. Bharat and his team have somehow been able to procure permissions from the authorities to continue their work for a few hours every day.
What struck me was the fact that these families had never learned to fight for their rights and thus now feel great fear for their life. There is uncertainty whether they will get their means of livelihood back or even whether they will survive this period.
Till now Bharat has been able to support 465 families through ‘Happiness kits’ which include basic needs such as food, medicines and facemasks, health care information. He currently needs your support to help families in 5 villages in the Amaravati District by providing rice and oil, essential hygiene and immunity booster items Each kit costs Rs.1,080/- (15 US$)
If you are in a position to support, please donate to Bharat’s Covid-19 relief work via the following website http://www.muditaschool.org
Or otherwise, please share this blog post within your network.
