Mayurbhanj, a tribal district dominated by Adivasis with a population of 26 lakh, is worst affected region of Odisha. A majority of tribal residents belong to the indigent community and hence are greatly affected by the ongoing corona crisis.

Challenges Faced by the Poor in tribal belts of Odisha

1. Due to Lockdown, the tribal people have lost their daily wage jobs, which is affecting their full-time source of income.
2. Youths, who migrated to big cities in search of work due to no employment opportunities in the villages, are returning with empty hands and risk of corona contamination.
3. Limited access to essentials is creating hardships for landless and primitive tribal communities.
4. Migrants need to be quarantined before they socialize with their community, else the corona count will continue to increase.
5. Lack of awareness on personal hygiene and social distancing among the tribal communities.
6. No buyers for local or forest produce, due to halted trade across the state, is simply adding to the hardships of tribal people in the rurals.

How Antyodaya Chetana Mandal is acting in response to the sufferings of Indigent Communities

1. Free food at Gram Panchayat level is being provided to the poor and distressed people with cooking managed by Community organizations.
2. Distribution of essentials within the organizations’ s capacity. The founder and associates are personally distributing the packets to people who are in distress. Till now, ACM has served minimum grocery to over 4000 rural families on a personal capacity.
3. ACM has provided 50 beds for the temporary Medical Camp at Rasgovindpur block.
4. ACM is using audio medium (mobile vans with loudspeakers) to raise the awareness on COVID-19. Also, small meetups of 5-7 people group are organized to demonstrate the norms of social distancing and personal hygiene. 
5. A dedicated Mobile Health Unit is continuously working in the rurals to help tribal residents stay away from coronavirus.
6. ACM is also planning various self-reliant programmes to develop the livelihood of tribal communities in rurals for a better future, after the corona crisis ends.

For a detailed overview of our ongoing works, please check this blog. https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/05/commendable-caring-and-support-to-indigent-communities-in-the-extreme-rurals-of-odisha-dur/

Immediate Covid 19 (Corona Pandemic) Response Needed with the participation of Our Organization:

• Awareness on Infection Prevention and Control (Rasgovindpur and Kaptipada Block of Mayurbhanj and Kotagarh Block of Kandhamal covering 100 villages in total)
• Mobilization for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment of corona virus.
• Awareness on social distancing
• Providing disinfectant, soap, sanitizers, masks, gloves, etc at community level
• Support Dry ration to the indigent communities of three blocks
• Developing Health and Hygiene (10 Gps in 3 Blocks / 100 villages)
• Develop hygienic sense and hygienic practice with help of SHG, ASHA and AWW
• Mobile Health Units with a team of Doctor, Nurses and Pharmacist to help the communities with medicines  and child food.
• Providing disinfectant, soap, sanitizers, masks, gloves, etc at community level
• Developing drinking water sources (safe and potable)

Antyodaya Chetana Mandal, with an onfield experience of 30 years in relief and rehabilitation projects during Daleighai flood ,Super Cyclone, Phailin,Fani, is dedicatedly working to serve the poorest communities during the corona crisis. Since the Day 1 of nationwide lockdown, the organization is serving the helpless and needy ones on its personal capacity.

In order to expand its benefits for indigent communities, Antyodaya Chetana Mandal is looking more capital funds to serve another 3000 families in their working regions.

Hence, it's a sincere request to come forward and donate whatever you can, so that the organization can continue to serve the tribal people, who are highly affected by the crisis of COVID-19.