Rehabilitation of Rural Communities in India

Namaste,

We hope that you, your family and loved ones are safe and in good health.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought countries to a standstill in an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus. India has been under lockdown since the end of March and, although it is necessary, it is having a huge effect on the economy. It is this economic downturn that is hitting families living in poverty the hardest.

Families like Nathi’s:

‘Everyday is a struggle to feed my family. I’m a widow with 5 children to care for and no one hires widows here.’

Since her husband died, Nathi has had little to no income. Every day is a struggle just to survive. Her priority is her children, making sure that they have enough to eat, but when the Covid-19 arrived, everything became worse. ‘Covid-19 has brought havoc to my life.’ she explains.

Nathi lives in a rural and tribal community in Kumbhalgarh, an area famous for its historic fort. For village communities here, access to basic services is limited, and the Covid-19 lockdown has made it even harder for people to access essential goods such as food and sanitation materials.

The relief effort that you have supported is ensuring that families like Nathi’s have the supplies they need to survive the lockdown and avoid contracting the pandemic. Part of these relief efforts is the distribution of sanitation kits, containing soap and detergents enough for a family of five for two weeks.

‘A lady who works for Seva Mandir came to my home with a sanitation kit. She explained to me and my children how to use the soap and detergent properly.’

Maintaining high levels of hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic is essential. The supply of these relief kits means that families can utilise their small savings for other essential things, such as food, so their families can survive the lockdown.

Until now, we have distributed 24,400 kits - 20,700 sanitation kits, 1,700 food kits, and 2,000 grain-storage kits. We are also aiding the government in their relief efforts.

However, there are still many more families left to reach, and you can help us provide lifesaving aid to them. You can renew your commitment to support to our Covid-19 project by clicking here. Your donation to this fund will provide relief and support to the families of these communities during this challenging time.

You can be part of this effort whether it is by donating directly to Seva Mandir, by spreading the word of Seva Mandir to people you know, or just by sending us your messages of support.

You can keep up to date with our efforts on our dedicated Covid-19 page on our website. Click here to access it.

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support. Please stay healthy and keep social distancing.

Regards

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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Links:

• Seva Mandir's Website
• Seva Mandir's Facebook Page