For daily wage worker Favina, survival is based on only factor i.e. daily work. The day she stops working her ailing husband and two children will face the starvation.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in Nagpur, this source of livelihood suffered a shocking setback.

Just from the day lockdown was announced as a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus, Favina, who lives in a slum area at Jaripattaka area of Nagpur faced serious survival issues.

er husband suffers from Tuberculosis and Jaundice which has further wrecked the financial stability. He needs continuous medication and cannot work due to his weak physical condition. Before the illness, he used to work as a painter but when his health started deteriorating, he could not continue his work.

Favina is tensed about her son’s education as well as meeting the medical needs of her husband. Being the only working member of the family, she used to work hard to fulfil the daily needs of the family but now that source is also closed.

The restriction of movement during the lockdown has drastically impacted the economic stability of India’s poor, who earn their livelihood by working every day. The situation has suspended all form of work and left the poor people for starvation.

With little saving and available food stock the families survived but as the stocks started drying up the real problem became severe. The families could no longer help each other which resulted in mounting frustration and desperation.

“If I get some financial help from anyone, I could start some income generation programme like a petty shop or selling ready-made clothes etc.”, said Favina to the volunteer of Nagpur Multipurpose Social Service Society implementing the Caritas India and HCL Foundation supported COVID relief project. Accessing the situation of the family, Favina name was included for the relief support.

She stood with folded hands saying that “this will help at least to feed my family I was on the street every day in search of work to feed my sick husband and my sons”.

The project offers food and hygiene kits to the vulnerable communities ranging from migrant workers/ informal sector workers by prioritizing families living in slums areas, families with senior citizens, single mothers, transgender group and other vulnerable groups in Nagpur, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Vijaywada cities.

The relief support was a ray of hope for her family. In these pressing times, this food and hygiene support can help them to fight their battle. “I always will remain grateful to Caritas India and HCL for the timely help If not I can’t say where I could search for food to sustain my family”, says Favina with a lot of gratitude.