UPDATE - 9 EFICOR'S Response To Covid - 19 Second Wave

Dear Partners,

Covid-19 cases have been gradually declining in India. We are continuing our support to the communities who are still dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic and the consequent lockdown. This update, our focus is on Delhi. With a population of 31 million, Delhi is home to people from different States, languages and cultures.

According to reports, 1.4 million people tested positive for Covid-19 in Delhi and more than 25,000 people have lost their lives. It is heart-breaking to read the report of the Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights that states that over 2000 children have lost one or both parents due to Covid in Delhi alone. As a hub of economic activities, Delhi is home to an estimated 4-5 million migrants who live in slum settlements. These communities are mainly daily wage labourers and one of the worst affected due to the lockdown. With no jobs available and little or no savings in hand, they are not able to afford rent or meet the needs of their families here as well as in their villages. The Delhi Government launched welfare schemes for those registered as migrants or daily wage workers. Thankfully, many were able to access rice or wheat for the last two months. However this was insufficient to meet the food needs for the entire family. According to government reports over 800, 000 migrants have left Delhi during the second wave.

EFICOR has been working in collaboration with the Delhi government, religious institutions like Dargah and churches to identify migrants and daily wage workers to support them with cash transfers, dry ration and essential provisions. In my interactions with some women during the relief kit distribution in South Delhi, they expressed their hardship and struggle dealing with the fear of the pandemic and loss of jobs. They were desperately looking for essential supplies from someone to feed their children. Although the Delhi government has relaxed the lockdown restrictions, not all activities have resumed. The High Court of Delhi has applauded the works of Civil Societies for their timely action to support the poor and needy during the curfew and lockdown. Our teams continue to work to reach the remotest places in our project locations to ensure that communities have food, know how to protect themselves and are able to get vaccinated in coordination with the government. We want to express our sincere thanks for your support to be able to do this.

M. Ramesh Babu,
Executive Director
EFICOR