Last year, OSF had swung into action to relieve the distress of the people intensely affected by lockdown. The daily wage earners, migrant workers, auto-drivers, petty traders, petty shop owners, house-maids, small vendors who form India’s informal sector were the most effected. The informal sector constitutes 81% of all employed persons in India as per the report from ILO. OSF focused primarily on the medium and small towns which receives relatively lesser attention.

We Supplied Essential Provision Kits: With a huge number of cash-strapped people who had lost income generation options during the lockdown time, it was our duty to help them survive in a dignified manner. Purchase of food, grocery, personal hygiene products, medicines are entirely dependent on their daily / weekly wages. OSF supplied Food Survival Provision kits. Without this support, they faced the threat of hunger, cutting down on food items and eating food on less number of occassions. The kits with selected food items ensured the needed resilience for beneficaries and their families to remain healthy. This was the opportunity to show our care and compassion by sharing what we have with them.

We Supplied Protective Kits: Healthcare providers and authorities who manage the fight against Covid19 require a steady supply of protective gear. We mobilised resources to procure and pass on these items.

In the interim unlock phase, we started focussing on the long-term consequences that the pandemic had triggered. Projects to address the school-readiness for remote children, enhancement of rural/tribal farm incomes through nature-friendly farm activities, support to marginal farmers are some of the themes that we operate in. The principle is to curate an environment that will help them sustain on their own.

Each kit consisted of products like Rice / Wheat, Pulses-lentils, Salt, Sugar, Pickle, Tea, Potatoes, Onions, Biscuits, Oil, Soaps, Detergent.

The kit composition was customized to the tastes and needs of a particular location.

We ensured to avoid duplicating provisions given through Govt Public Distribution System.

Masks and sanitisers for low-income communities. Glove for healthcare workers and municipal authorities etc.

Much prior to the lockdown, OSF had taken all precautions in our office and permanent training centres.

Safety hygiene practices were meticulously followed in all Adult Literacy, Skill Development and Tuition Centres. Our local volunteers demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, and stressed the need for social distancing. All the beneficiary trainees were asked to convey the Covid19 care precautions in their houses and neighbourhoods.

With the incidence of cases rising across India, all classes were suspended by the 2^nd week of March 2020, for safety and in line with the local guidelines.