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The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic is most acutely felt by workers of the informal sector. As the crisis continues, weavers and artisans across the country have lost access to their daily wage as production sites and workshops have closed down. These producer communities come from already socio-economically disadvantaged conditions and are perpetually stuck in credit and debt cycles. Given the lockdown, they have no alternative sources of income and are in grave financial distress.
While the efforts being made by central and state governments vis-à-vis the PM CARE Fund or the CM Relief Fund (Karnataka) are important, there have been no sustained efforts to counter the plight of the weavers. Even fundraisers that are raising funds for essential goods, food, and medicine are largely focused on construction workers, daily wagers, house helps, etc. Our efforts are to reach weavers and artisans who fall between the cracks of central and state government grants, as well as, informal-sector focused fundraisers.
The Shreni Relief Fund (spearheaded by Shreni Community Trust) aims to provide direct monetary support to weavers and artisans. Our aim to help their lack of access to monetary capital.
Who are we helping and how?
Shreni Community Trust has a network of over 1500 workers, with secondary access to several thousand more from the informal sector. Our members are spread over the south Indian states, in clusters such as Kallur, Shigli, Kamatagi, Guledgudda, Channapatna, Srikakulam, and Gadwal amongst others. From this network, we will identify 500 of the most vulnerable weaver and artisan families who will receive direct financial support to address their immediate needs such as food grains and medical supplies, as well as, to make credit and loan payments.
Most fundraisers are focused on providing aid in kind via food packages, care packages, medical kits, etc. However, despite payment moratoriums announced by the government, the need of the hour is making direct funding available for distressed families to utilise as per their current socio-economic requirements. This is especially true for weavers and artisans, who have pending payments and loans from private moneylenders and traders, adding to the financial pressure they feel in the current atmosphere. We hope to relieve some of this pressure by direct transfer of a stipulated amount into their accounts for them to use as they seem fit. This also allows us to work remotely without disrupting social distancing guidelines on our end, as well for the beneficiaries.
Utilisation of funds
We aim to raise Rs. 15,00,000 (Rs.3000 x 500 families)
We have spent the last 2 years building our communities, trying to understand their grievances and help them become socio-economically independent. Since these weavers and artisans are a part of our network, we already have remote access to them through our online network and are currently collecting other details such as Aadhar and bank details.
About Shreni Community Trust
Shreni Community Trust is a non-profit organisation that works in improving livelihoods in the informal sector. We work primarily with weavers and artisans, as well as, carpenters, beauticians, embroiders, and tailors. Our aim is to provide stable, sustainable livelihoods and improve the wage standards in the informal sector. We pursue this goal through our Occupational Network, training and Revival Program, and other community and capacity building interventions.
For further information or queries, reach out to us:
Mail: info@shrenis.com
Website: www.shrenis.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shrenisnetwork/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shrenisnetwork/
While the efforts being made by central and state governments vis-à-vis the PM CARE Fund or the CM Relief Fund (Karnataka) are important, there have been no sustained efforts to counter the plight of the weavers. Even fundraisers that are raising funds for essential goods, food, and medicine are largely focused on construction workers, daily wagers, house helps, etc. Our efforts are to reach weavers and artisans who fall between the cracks of central and state government grants, as well as, informal-sector focused fundraisers.
The Shreni Relief Fund (spearheaded by Shreni Community Trust) aims to provide direct monetary support to weavers and artisans. Our aim to help their lack of access to monetary capital.
Who are we helping and how?
Shreni Community Trust has a network of over 1500 workers, with secondary access to several thousand more from the informal sector. Our members are spread over the south Indian states, in clusters such as Kallur, Shigli, Kamatagi, Guledgudda, Channapatna, Srikakulam, and Gadwal amongst others. From this network, we will identify 500 of the most vulnerable weaver and artisan families who will receive direct financial support to address their immediate needs such as food grains and medical supplies, as well as, to make credit and loan payments.
Most fundraisers are focused on providing aid in kind via food packages, care packages, medical kits, etc. However, despite payment moratoriums announced by the government, the need of the hour is making direct funding available for distressed families to utilise as per their current socio-economic requirements. This is especially true for weavers and artisans, who have pending payments and loans from private moneylenders and traders, adding to the financial pressure they feel in the current atmosphere. We hope to relieve some of this pressure by direct transfer of a stipulated amount into their accounts for them to use as they seem fit. This also allows us to work remotely without disrupting social distancing guidelines on our end, as well for the beneficiaries.
Utilisation of funds
We aim to raise Rs. 15,00,000 (Rs.3000 x 500 families)
We have spent the last 2 years building our communities, trying to understand their grievances and help them become socio-economically independent. Since these weavers and artisans are a part of our network, we already have remote access to them through our online network and are currently collecting other details such as Aadhar and bank details.
About Shreni Community Trust
Shreni Community Trust is a non-profit organisation that works in improving livelihoods in the informal sector. We work primarily with weavers and artisans, as well as, carpenters, beauticians, embroiders, and tailors. Our aim is to provide stable, sustainable livelihoods and improve the wage standards in the informal sector. We pursue this goal through our Occupational Network, training and Revival Program, and other community and capacity building interventions.
For further information or queries, reach out to us:
Mail: info@shrenis.com
Website: www.shrenis.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shrenisnetwork/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shrenisnetwork/
