Rajni works in three houses as domestic help to take care of her three children and ailing mother. They have migrated from Bihar to Nashik two years back in search of better livelihood. After the death of her husband, she is the sole breadwinner for the family. 

Life was difficult to run from pillar to post, just to keep my family running and satisfied. “I used to get Rs. 6000/- by working in three houses but that too was not enough”, says Rajni.

But when Covid-19 arrived in Nashik, all her employers stopped her from coming.

Domestic workers across the country share the same fate of losing their jobs in the wake of coronavirus. Employers are not ready to risk their lives due to COVID-19 infection and they have stopped the domestic workers for work.

The current coronavirus crisis continues to have a significant impact on the economy, employment, and people’s lives in general. The deadly Coronavirus has lockdown Maharashtra state having the highest number of coronavirus affected cases. People are locked down in their houses in cities as well as villages. Due to the Coronavirus, people can not come out of their houses and get the basic needs for their survival. The situation of slums and villages is very pathetic to see that people have nothing to eat in the house

“Our survival depends on daily work and COVID 19 has affected us very badly. No one could give us any work during this lockdown. Everyone had the fear about the spread of this virus” Rajani says with an unhappy face.

“We remained in the house without work for more than two months. The prices of grocery were going high and shopkeepers were not ready to give the things on credit. I was struggling to get the daily bread for my family” she further added. It was a difficult time for the family and old mother. The family was finding it very difficult how to manage life. The family remain without work for more than three months.   

Sr. Bindu, from Samaj Vikas Samiti, Nashik immediately selected Rajni’s family and provided the ration kit. The relief initiative is a collaborative effort of Caritas India, Caritas Internationalis and Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to support the vulnerable section of the society. This support helps in safeguarding people by improving their nutritional intake during Covid19 community transmission.  

“Samaj Vikas Samiti came as God’s angel and supplied the grocery that was a great blessing for my family. It was sufficient for our family to sustain for more than a month” says Rajani with a smiling face. She expressed her heartfelt thanks to SVS, Nasik Diocese and Caritas India for coming forward in our dire times.