Provide immediate support and relief in times of distress as a humanitarian response.
Since its inception Prayatna has been actively involved in emergency relief work with providing support to the people affected due to flood in Bihar. This includes distribution of medicines,conducting emergency health camps, provisioning of basic cooked food, dry ration and drinkingwater, providing clothes and other essentials. More recently, Prayatna has been actively worked during the Corona crisis where we are providing cooked food, dry rations, masks, hygiene kits etc.across many states of India.
Natural Disasters can be a testing time for the community where they may feel helpless. In India, floods are the most common form of natural disaster which takes place especially in the Northern part of Bihar. It is important for the communities to not only be provided with necessary relief measures; they should also be well versed with the methods which should be undertaken under Disaster Management. 2004 onwards, Prayatna has focused on the Muzaffarpur area in Bihar with flood relief measures and has worked with the local community and the government officials to minimize the losses people endure during such times.
Clothes distribution drive was conducted in Bela, Muzaffarpur as part of disaster relief program on 24th March 2019 where in 45 girls were given sarees and chunri. It was commenced again on 6th March 2019 where in 150 men were given pants and shirts. This drive was supported by Rama Krishna Seva Mission.
COVID-19 RELIEF CAMPAIGN-
According to World Health Organisation Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. The first case of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic in India was reported on 30 January 2020, originating from China. As of 27 April 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have confirmed a total of 27,892 cases, 6,185 recoveries (including 1 migration) and 872 deaths in the country.
On 24 March, PM Narendra Modi announced a complete nationwide lockdown, starting from midnight for 21 days. By 6 April, the growth rate of the pandemic had slowed to one of doubling every six days, from a rate of doubling every three days earlier. Although the situation was still extremely critical hence, on 14 April, PM Narendra Modi extended nationwide lockdown till 3 May, with a conditional relaxation from 20 April for the areas that have been able to contain the spread.
An estimated 139 million migrant workers from the countryside work in India’s cities and towns. With factories and workplaces shut down, they were left with no livelihood. The coronavirus lockdown i food supplies in India has left tens of millions of migrant workers unemployed. The lockdown has disrupted and threatens to trigger a food crisis. It’s very unfortunate that their lives have literally come to hold with no earnings & no food to feed their families.
Seeing the plight of migrant labours, Prayatna decided to support these people in the difficult times through distribution cooked food, dry ration, reusable masks, AND soaps. In this regard, Prayatna has been working since the 1st week of April in Delhi-NCR, Bhubaneswar, Jharkhand, and Gujrat by providing the marginalized population with dry ration and cooked food. We are serving to 4000 families every day. Prayatna has also been able to provide PPE’s to 1000 doctors, nurses and caregivers in Delhi.
Prayatna distributed more than 4000 handmade masks & soaps to the people in Muzzafarpur, Bihar in the villages of Jogni Ganga, Jogni Jaga, Muriyari, Bakhari, Bharwari, Bidhpur, Marwan and Gobarsahi. Alongside the distribution we also raised awareness among people on various aspects of the dealing with the virus like how to wash hands, importance of good hygiene habits, social distancing etc.