The COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown represents an unprecedented challenge for humanity. Lockdown is having an immediate impact on the world economy, which varies dramatically across sectors and across regions. Many sectors have nearly stopped operating, others are facing activity peaks with shortages of skilled workers. The impact of confinement is bound to be most severe for vulnerable workers, especially poor, informal-sector workers with daily earnings and no savings, raising concerns for their survival. Disruption in routine, social isolation and the pandemic itself is undoubtedly taking a toll on the wellbeing and mental health of people. In some contexts, there are emerging sexual and reproductive health risks and an increase in exposure to and experiences of violence, particularly impacting women.   

Caritas India has been at the forefront during this entire COVID19 emergency. The Catholic Churches under the guidance of CBCI’s official social development wing Caritas India, along with its Forum and the Diocesan Social Service societies are committed and rendering their selfless service to the people, especially the poor and the migrant, neglected elderly and the children, widows, transgenders, tribal people, persons with disabilities, who are in need- by providing them cooked meals, dry ration, health safety materials, sanitizers, face masks, soaps  etc. The Diocese and the diocesan social service societies are closely collaborating with the government state, district and local administration and authorities in COVID-19 response activities. While some partners distributed relief kits for cancer patients, others extended medical and financial support to the most needed patients. Some of the partners have started distribution of family farming-related materials for the household such as seedling, seeds, grow bags, etc., as another area of intervention.

The partners are committed to raise awareness on Covid-19 and its ill-effects and emphasizing the need for staying in home and staying healthy. The poor and marginalized people, daily wage earners, construction laborers, migrants and those who depend on others for their day-to-day sustenance have been identified and reached out for giving them the much-needed assistance and guidance to overcome the present critical situation. Identifying and assisting the people in need with the help of the committed team of volunteers and staff, is the main strategy followed for the week by the partners. Partners are at the forefront to provide psychosocial support and counselling to those in need.

Partners in Kerala are now focusing on providing PPE kits to the Private & Govt. Hospitals and Health Department. In the direction received from the state government they are also focusing to give resources like, infrastructures, building for the accommodating the laborers working in gulf and European countries for the healthy quarantine time for them. In Assam and Meghalaya, three Church infrastructures have been given to the govt to be used as quarantine centres. Some partners in the west zone have provided Ambulance services for emergency relief of patients and commuting stranded people to safer locations. In Maharashtra, some of the partners have appealed to women religious congregations and all the diocesan schools by priests and religious to mobilize the dry food grains, cooked food, masks and sanitizers for needy and migrants’ families. Keeping the true essence of the Lenten Campaign in mind, the Church based institutions were appealed to do the Act of Charity in the best way possible.