Emergency Response

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The disease’s sudden onset was in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province in China in December 2019. It was categorized as a global emergency on 30 January 2020. Subsequently, due to its speed and scale of global transmission it became a pandemic. The virus is a global public health problem and has infected population in over 196 countries of the world.

In India as of 25th May 2020, there are around 1,45,380 positive cases in the country spread across the length and breadth of the country. To limit the spread of the virus government declared national lock down on 23rd March 2020 and it continues.  This lock down was needed to not only flatten the curve but also give time to the government to better prepare for the huge number of cases.

This also resulted in the huge number of migrant laborers as well as local population going without food and other support during the lock down. Government is doing everything in its capacity to provide food packets and rations but it is inadequate. 

With over 80% of India’s workforce employed in the informal sector and one-third working as casual labour, Covid-19's spread and subsequent lockdowns, have created economic havoc in the lives of millions. This economic uncertainty means, millions going to bed hungry every day. 

It is the responsibility of NGOs/ CBOs/ Corporates / Foundations and individuals to come forward to the aid of these suffering millions. We all must do whatever is in our means to ease the pain and ensure no one sleeps hungry. It is important to take special care of the children, the most vulnerable of the lot.

Since major work of ALIG Education and Welfare Society has been with the schools spread across two major states of the country i.e. Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand and West Bengal we have identified families with the help of the head masters of the school. These families have their children in the school. It is important to take care of the children and their families at this difficult hour. We have identified families from each school who needs support, these families in turn have been validated by both the headmasters as well as ALIG teacher present in the school. 

In the month of May 2020, we reached out to 597 families in the mentioned districts and provided them with one month of ration. 

There is a total of 3000 families spread across 45 Schools in Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand and West Bengal who needs immediate assistance. They are daily laborers and vendors. The women work in household in nearby by communities but due to the lock down and social distancing the current income of the families is zero.

So ALIG has planed to distribute basic ration kits for one month (and expand it to two months later). The support will help us to reach out and feed more during the pandemic. We have identified from our system database 3000 families who are in immediate need for food packets to avoid hunger. The food packets would also have Health and Hygiene kits to maintain healthy environment in the present situation.  

Considering 6 members in a family we intend to help 18,000 people to fight against hunger. The health and hygiene kits will also help in positive behavioral change among the beneficiary and the family members.