Ensuring Food Availability to Marginalised Family

By: Md Mahfooz Alam

The pandemic has been a very difficult time for 56-year old Sobhna and her husband Ramesh, who is disabled with both his legs. As a lone breadwinner, Sobhna somehow manages the bare minimum for her family by labouring hard as a road construction worker. But the pandemic took off her only source of income.

They live in the Mainpani village of the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. Like many others from marginalised sections of society, she was unable to find any stable livelihood options.

When the CASA’s volunteers had approached Ramesh, he inconsolably blurted out about the daily ordeals and their struggle for even a square meal a day. He was consoled and informed about the Covid-19 relief package that CASA is providing to unprivileged families.

Ramesh now cheerfully says, “The relief package of Ration Kit and WaSH Kit that we received has helped minimise our misery to a great extent, it contained everything we required and lasted more than a month .” Adding further he says, “before receiving the package, we never had a complete meal since the pandemic took a toll in our lives.”

The family was also educated about the Covid Appropriate Behaviour and were made aware of the importance of handwashing and masks to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus.

Elaborating on the relief package, Ramesh says, “not only ration, but we were also provided masks, sanitisers, and soap. Now whenever my wife comes back from work, she washes her hands and feet with soap and water.”

Sobhna was assisted to avail work for two months in road construction through the government scheme of Gram Panchayat. The volunteers got her in touch with the assistant secretary of the Panchayat.

The couple was also motivated to get vaccinated as they were hesitant due to the barrage of rumours doing the rounds about the vaccine. They have now both received the first dosage.