Situated at the hilly areas and in the remotest parts, during the disasters times especially like COVID-19, tribal areas are considered to be the safest places. The existing lifestyle of the tribal people posed a problem to the people as such the whole community itself. The lack of opportunities aggravated the tribal people for seasonal migration, to migrate to other states for months (on an average, four to six months). The migrants of hilly areas in Tamil Nadu generally migrate to tea estates in Karnataka and Kerala states in the January, every year. The migrants of northern part of the India generally migrate after the crop harvesting season. In most of the tribal areas in the country, people have migrated to other states for their livelihood. Unprecedented lockdown locked all the migrants at their respective workplaces. Few generous owners are allowing the workers to stay at the workplaces but most of the owners are forcing the workers to move out of the workplace. The uncertainties of food and shelter has creating chaos in their lives which also resulting in rebellion at the moments by mass gatherings and protesting.
DHAN’s staff with the support of the community leaders have been in regular touch with all the migrant families locked in the other states, knowing their well-being and informing them with any information related to transportation arrangements.
DHAN’s TRIBAL REGIONS
DHAN Foundation’s tribal regions include Banswara in Rajasthan, Dhar and Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, Latehar in Jharkhand, Koraput in Odisha, Jawadhu Hills and Kalvarayan Hills in Tamil Nadu.
DHAN’s Banswara region is working in 7 blocks viz., Kushalgarh, Sajjangarh, Gangratali, Anandpuri, Banswara and Bagidora – in 69 villages with 1,84,831 members for providing financial literacy awareness.
DHAN’s Dhar region is working in five blocks, covering 4000 families. Almost 30% of our members are employed in labor works.
DHAN’s Ratlam region is working in four Teshils viz., Sailana, Piploda, Bajna and Rawti, associated with 3000 families.
DHAN’s Jharkhand region is working in two districts viz., Ranchi and Latehar associated with 2200 member families (150 groups).
DHAN’s Jawadhu Hills is working in 11 panchayats and 140 Hamlets. 90% of the people are tribals in Jawadhu Hills.
Across all the tribal regions, seasonal migration in search of livelihood is a common phenomenon. Before lockdown, as usual members have migrated to different states. Sudden initiation of the lockdown resulted in members getting struck at their workplaces. Federation coordinators are in touch with members struck at their workplaces knowing their status of livelihood. At the regional level, regional team through WhatsApp groups and over calls, updating the members about the entitlement benefits and the updates of the lockdown.
Koraput
DHAN Foundation is working with 970 SHGs covering 14, 967 households in 372 villages of 53 GPs of Koraput District. DHAN Foundation has created awareness campaign among the interior tribal working areas through ‘Awareness Ratha.’ The Ratha covered more than 40 villages creating awareness among 30000 tribal people at different villages. Two local NGOs viz., CYSD and Pragati have availed 3000 masks from Kalanjiam members to distribute in their working areas.Around 35 Kalanjiam members as well as adolescent girls are being engaged in making masks, so far, 7500 masks and 200 soaps were distributed among our members at different villages. 1000 leaflets on covid-19 awarenesswere circulated among the villages and local markets during Awareness Ratha. Awareness programmes – maintaining social distancing, wearing safety masks, hand washing methods and precautionary measures – were organized in 301 villages. Participatory health approach survey has been conducted for 46 villages in the region.
