Protect children living in COVID affected Mica mining areas

Families dependent on Mica collection in Jharkhand, India live in abject poverty resulting in their children being engaged in labour and living in exploitative conditions.

The COVID-19 outbreak has made their socio-economic conditions even worse, increasing their vulnerabilities. While the state records close to 300K active cases and 3K deaths, the Mica mining regions (Koderma and Giridih districts) are at high risk due to their remoteness, poor outreach of basic services/facilities, huge digital divide and lack of access to resources. 

Our project areas have reported 58 positive cases and 8 deaths as a result of the second wave of COVID. There is a high risk of infection due to reverse migration and lack of awareness about COVID appropriate behaviour. The ongoing lockdown has resulted in reduced income opportunities leading to food insecurity among the most vulnerable families. Children and families are finding it very difficult to survive due to loss of livelihoods as well as protect themselves from potential risk of infection. Heavy panic due to pandemic and anxiety has also affected the psychosocial well being of children.

We plan to reach out to 1,100 vulnerable families by

1. Supplying them with dry ration (rice,dal, vegetables,cooking oil) and hygiene kits (face masks, sanitiser, hand wash, soaps, detergent)
2. Using audio/voice messages to spread awareness on COVID appropriate practices and uptake of vaccination.
3. Organising/Facilitating Vaccination camps 
4. Support for sustained access to supplementary nutrition through home stead nutrition gardening.
5. Providing children with psychosocial support kits ( arts,drawing,painting and creative activities) to keep them joyfully engaged.

1. Children and families are protected from contracting the virus and associated health complications.
2. Vulnerable families have access to food for 14 days (to meet the expected time gap in rolling out of the Government food distribution scheme).
3. Increased level of awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour, hygiene, vaccination and health seeking behaviour.
4. Increased access and coverage of vaccination.
5. Families will have sustained access to supplementary nutrition and boost immunity through homestead nutrition gardens.
6. Children can address their anxiety issues through joyful engagement