Challenges of Covid-19

Stand with community, for community

The work of Samaan Society is mainly community-centred. The organization is continuously working with the socio-economically weaker sections. The organization has a close association with the community in 200 settlements of Indore city. The organization’s engagement with the community is based on issues, including gender equality and justice, livelihoods, social security and mental health etc.

Relief work

The biggest impact of the lockdown was on the weaker sections of the society. As soon as the lockdown started, there was a crisis of food and nutrition in front of the people. There were restrictions on people coming out of the house. All jobs were closed and there was no money in their hands. In this a very serious situation had arisen. During this, the community was contacted by the of the Samaan Society and efforts were made to solve their problems.

Efforts to gain access to government relief

The most important need of the community during this period was nutrition. Ration was over in most of the houses. The question in front of them was how will they fill their stomach till the lockdown is over? Many people called to Samaan Society and told their situation. In this situation, first of all efforts were made to reach the benefit of the government ration distribution scheme to the community. Efforts were made on behalf of the organization to contact the District Collector and the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation. Names and addresses of needy settlements and people were sentthrough email. As a result of this effort, ration was delivered to the people of our list sent by the Municipal Corporation. In this process, due to the efforts of the organization, 212 families were provided access to the ration distribution program of the Municipal Corporation.

Grocery distribution by the Samaan Society

Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. Provided groceries kits for 100 families. Along with this, grocery kits were also provided by Azad Foundation, Jagori, Jansahas and Dignity Alliance International

Total Beneficiary Families 1339

With the extension of the lockdown period, the families started needing more relief. In this situation, ration kits were made available to the needy families by the Samaan Society with the help of various organizations. Many women trained by the organization and associated with the employment of driving and mechanic had lost their jobs. As an emergency, 19 women in extreme distress were deposited one thousand rupees each in their accounts for grocery. Because these families were living in the cantonment area, where there were strict restrictions on the access of any person. In this situation, discussions were held over the phone and transferring the amount to them bank account helped him in arranging grocery. Along with this, ration kits were directly delivered by the organization to 859 families.

During the COVID lockdown, the problem of reaching the hospital was very serious in front of pregnant women. All modes of transport were closed during the lockdown. It has been very difficult for pregnant women to get tested, to reach the doctor in case of any problem and to reach the hospital for delivery and the government helpline numbers were also not working. In this situation, with the help of trained drivers, a campaign was started to transport pregnant women to the hospital free of cost and take them back to their homes. For this, the organization’s car was used by the female driver. Women drivers also provided this service free of cost.