Episode 14: News from the home of the Migrants

Osama Manzar Founder and Director of DEF spoke with Prabhu Kumar – District coordinator at DEF. He has been helping the community members by distributing safety kits, masks and by spreading awareness and providing financial services to them.

People in Narkatiaganj, Rampur and Bettiah are following the norms of lockdown, but those who are in the villages, they haven’t taken it seriously. People have to mandatorily wear masks while going out, but the less educated are constantly breaking the rules out of carelessness or lack of awareness.  We as a team are trying to debunk misinformation and spread awareness about the vicious virus.

The monetary condition of the daily wagers and migrant labourers is not good. They are surviving on borrowed money from their neighbours. Nevertheless, we are making sure that the migrant labourers who have returned to the village are properly screened by the doctors and quarantined for 14 days, and the people also extended adequate support to them with essentials.

The situation in the village is not balanced. Where the beneficiaries of the government schemes such as Ujjala Yojna, Jan Dhan Yojna, PM Kisan Yojna and MNREGA, have gotten their accounts credited from various schemes, the people with no ration cards or bank accounts are facing problem.

On the brighter side, 500 masks have been distributed amongst people, the financial services have been provided to around 1500 people and until now food has been distributed to 300 people.