Acknowledging the generous support of the Guru Krupa Foundation to the afflicted
population of Martalli in the Corona crisis
population of Martalli in the Corona crisis
tThe Guru Krupa Foundation, the main funder of the very successful Kitchengarden Project for students (KGP), which could not start with phase 5 due to Corona restrictions, has agreed to generously fund Anishas Corona relief efforts in the Great Panchayat of Martalli. Continuing lockdowns, the loss of jobs and incomes had again aggravated the situation in many of the families in the region and another relief effort became vital. So Anisha turned to GKF for help to supply households with dry food kits, free ambulance services for Covid 19 patients, masks and sanitizers. The same volunteers that had successfully run Anisha's food aid programme in 2020 could be mobilised. Since most of the population in the district are poor and could do with a food kit, special criteria were used to identify the most needy: families that had lost someone due to Covid or were recovering from Covid, families headed by women, landless families and small and marginal farmers. Wholesalers were contacted for best prices and food kits packed containing each 10 kg millet, 10kg rice, 1 kg lentils, 1 kg chicken peas, 1 packet cooking oil. Lunch and tea for the volunteers was provided by the St. Joseph's Health Centre for the 3 days this combined effort lasted. Anisha hired a 3-wheeler Tempo truck (see below) to get the bags to the different distribution centres. Where families were too ill to come themselves, they got doorstep-delivery by volunteer youths on motorbikes. 520 parcels were thus handed out, more than 30 patients driven to hospitals in time, 330 face masks handed out. For more narrative and accounting details, please read Anisha's report of September 13: Progress Report to GKF on Covid-19 Relief Work 2021.
Food kits being distributed from a
Tempo truck
Anisha's Corona Assistance in 2020 and 2021
2021: While Chamarajanagar district was relatively Corona-free in 2020, incidents rose towards the end of the year dramatically and the Government needed every available assistance to cope with the situation. Even oxygen was short in supply. Anisha, with the help of one of her stout American supporters, bought a Trax Cruiser, a 12-seater from the Indian company Force, a strong and reliable vehicle. It was equipped as an Ambulance, including Oxygen supply and other emergency equipment to run patients quickly to the nearest hospitals. Rajan, Vallis husband, did most of the driving and from what Valli wrote, there was much demand for this service because when a Corona patient is in a critical state, every minute counts. Meanwhile, the situation has calmed down as elsewhere, people are being vaccinated. Read below about the beginnings in 2020.
Right: Honouring all those organisations and individuals who were responsible for organising and funding the food parcels that were distributed to the families of migrant workers stuck at home in the Corona pandemic in 2020. Left: Inaugurating the Trax Cruiser in 2021
In her Annual Report for 2020, Valli writes:
The COVID-19 pandemic put every individual into a difficult situation. India faced the worst situation as a lockdown was declared without any preparation. The people who had migrated to other states of the country suffered the most as they had to return to their hometowns without any wages, walk several miles for several days without food and water. Many casualties occurred during this time and repeated lock downs led to more suffering. As this was unpredicted, ANISHA could not respond to the situation immediately. A major population of Anisha’s project area is migrant labourers who had returned home without their wages. Some people had small savings with which they could manage for a few weeks. People were starving. Anisha and the local groups, (local leaders, teachers, NGOs) came together and planned to provide dry ration kits to the migrants and needy families. Together, 4100 dry food kits were distributed - 3000 by Anisha, 1000 by St.Joseph’s Hospitals and 100 by the school teachers. Rice and wheatflour were provided by the Government, but that was not enough for families of 5-7 members. These food kits brought a short relief for 2-3 weeks for the migrant families. Meanwhile, a 100-day guaranteed job scheme is in place, relieving the plight of the afflicted families considerably.
In her Annual Report for 2020, Valli writes:
The COVID-19 pandemic put every individual into a difficult situation. India faced the worst situation as a lockdown was declared without any preparation. The people who had migrated to other states of the country suffered the most as they had to return to their hometowns without any wages, walk several miles for several days without food and water. Many casualties occurred during this time and repeated lock downs led to more suffering. As this was unpredicted, ANISHA could not respond to the situation immediately. A major population of Anisha’s project area is migrant labourers who had returned home without their wages. Some people had small savings with which they could manage for a few weeks. People were starving. Anisha and the local groups, (local leaders, teachers, NGOs) came together and planned to provide dry ration kits to the migrants and needy families. Together, 4100 dry food kits were distributed - 3000 by Anisha, 1000 by St.Joseph’s Hospitals and 100 by the school teachers. Rice and wheatflour were provided by the Government, but that was not enough for families of 5-7 members. These food kits brought a short relief for 2-3 weeks for the migrant families. Meanwhile, a 100-day guaranteed job scheme is in place, relieving the plight of the afflicted families considerably.
Mission accomplished
Report by Valli Krishnaswamy on June 6, 2020
People responded through their SD organisations or directly. Within a few days, the full 25.000 USD were raised and forwarded to Anisha. Special thanks for taking up the bulk of the 25.000 USD go to a single donor from the US - a geat supporter of Valli and her work who has already in the past helped very generously when it was needed most.
Under the direction of John Bosco, an experienced development worker and alltime well-wisher of Anisha (a.o. he was one of the experts preparing and executing the external evaluation of Anisha in 2013 for the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development) the execution of this worthy initiative was set up in detail in meetings with Anisha, the Convent of St. Joseph's (Franciscan Missionaries of Mary) in the area and the teachers of Martalli after it had been decided to help as many as 3000 needy families in the area.
The identification of the families was done by the Martalli teachers. They visited every house, llooked at the circumstances and issued tokens that would legitimate the bearer to collect a parcel on the day of distribution. Food was purchased wholesale and packed and stored at St. Joseph's Hospital. Many local people teamed up and volunteered with Anisha to pack, unload and finally distribute food kits to the families. Common places like temples, churches and schools were selected as distribution centers. St. Joseph's convent donated also 2000 reusable facemasks. People stood in line - keeping the prescribed distances.
Anisha contributed 1320 food kits, the Sisters of the Joseph's Convent 1400 - the Organisation for Development of the People in Mysore added 200 food kits, the teachers of Martalli 100. At the end a total of 3020 food was distributed in the Hooga Panchyath and the MM Hils Panchayat of Martalli. And while all this was happening, the Government announced that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would be implemented, by which a 100-days guaranteed job scheme would be in place shortly which was a great relief for the afflicted families.
The Sisters, the teachers, the volunteers and John Bosco asked Anisha to thank the donors for their immediate response to the relief appeal and the timely help.
Everything ended by honouring all those brave Corona warriors who had worked so hard for the welfare of the people in the region:
the team of the Martalli Primary Health Centre, the Community Health Workers and the Police Staff of Ramapura.
Report by Valli Krishnaswamy on June 6, 2020
People responded through their SD organisations or directly. Within a few days, the full 25.000 USD were raised and forwarded to Anisha. Special thanks for taking up the bulk of the 25.000 USD go to a single donor from the US - a geat supporter of Valli and her work who has already in the past helped very generously when it was needed most.
Under the direction of John Bosco, an experienced development worker and alltime well-wisher of Anisha (a.o. he was one of the experts preparing and executing the external evaluation of Anisha in 2013 for the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development) the execution of this worthy initiative was set up in detail in meetings with Anisha, the Convent of St. Joseph's (Franciscan Missionaries of Mary) in the area and the teachers of Martalli after it had been decided to help as many as 3000 needy families in the area.
The identification of the families was done by the Martalli teachers. They visited every house, llooked at the circumstances and issued tokens that would legitimate the bearer to collect a parcel on the day of distribution. Food was purchased wholesale and packed and stored at St. Joseph's Hospital. Many local people teamed up and volunteered with Anisha to pack, unload and finally distribute food kits to the families. Common places like temples, churches and schools were selected as distribution centers. St. Joseph's convent donated also 2000 reusable facemasks. People stood in line - keeping the prescribed distances.
Anisha contributed 1320 food kits, the Sisters of the Joseph's Convent 1400 - the Organisation for Development of the People in Mysore added 200 food kits, the teachers of Martalli 100. At the end a total of 3020 food was distributed in the Hooga Panchyath and the MM Hils Panchayat of Martalli. And while all this was happening, the Government announced that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme would be implemented, by which a 100-days guaranteed job scheme would be in place shortly which was a great relief for the afflicted families.
The Sisters, the teachers, the volunteers and John Bosco asked Anisha to thank the donors for their immediate response to the relief appeal and the timely help.
Everything ended by honouring all those brave Corona warriors who had worked so hard for the welfare of the people in the region:
the team of the Martalli Primary Health Centre, the Community Health Workers and the Police Staff of Ramapura.
Planning and Execution of the Corona Relief
Former emergencies: April 2017 - 300 cows saved just in time
In April 2017 Valli wrote: "The situation is very bad here, there is water scarcity and no fodder available in the region. The panchayat is supplying water to the villagers which is insufficient. The fodder is coming in from Kollegal, the price is too high for the farmers. Some already lost their cows and buffalos and others are trying to sell the meager animals ... "
Immediately an appeal was sent to Susila Dharma International, National SDs and individuals. It was the Easter weekend and everyone responded immediately and very generously. Valli ordered 50 t of maizestraw, 32 farmers received 1,5 tons each and 320 heads of cattle could thus be saved. 8.403 USD were collected over the weekend and the following week. 4.606 USD spent on fodder, the remaining 3.797 USD will build the stock of a drought-relief-fund.
In June Valli writes:
"The pre-monsoon rains have started in May, the grass in the forests is growing again and the cows went back there for grazing. Cows are the only capital farmers have. When they need money for a wedding, they sell one or more cows. To cultivate their land they need cattle menure, what they do not need themselves, they sell. Same with milk and milk products. Cows are also a kind of moving back, serving as security vis-a-vis the local money lenders. Cows, as one farmer put it, are an important source of income and have in the past often saved our families from ruin. We cannot imagine to lose them. "
Immediately an appeal was sent to Susila Dharma International, National SDs and individuals. It was the Easter weekend and everyone responded immediately and very generously. Valli ordered 50 t of maizestraw, 32 farmers received 1,5 tons each and 320 heads of cattle could thus be saved. 8.403 USD were collected over the weekend and the following week. 4.606 USD spent on fodder, the remaining 3.797 USD will build the stock of a drought-relief-fund.
In June Valli writes:
"The pre-monsoon rains have started in May, the grass in the forests is growing again and the cows went back there for grazing. Cows are the only capital farmers have. When they need money for a wedding, they sell one or more cows. To cultivate their land they need cattle menure, what they do not need themselves, they sell. Same with milk and milk products. Cows are also a kind of moving back, serving as security vis-a-vis the local money lenders. Cows, as one farmer put it, are an important source of income and have in the past often saved our families from ruin. We cannot imagine to lose them. "
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MAILING ADDRESS: Anisha . Kadabur Village . Odaradotti . Martalli Post . Kollegal Taluk . Pin Code 571444 . Chmarajnagar District . Karnataka State . India
E-MAIL: anisha.india@gmail.com . PHONE: (91) 9448872207
E-MAIL: anisha.india@gmail.com . PHONE: (91) 9448872207
@Website, videos and photos by Myra Margolin. Additional design by Osanna Favre and additional photos by Anisha, the Human Force Volunteer Camp, Renee Zimmer
and Aminah Herrman. Updates Renee Zimmer and Valli Krishnaswamy, eMail Renee: CZimmer@t-online.de
and Aminah Herrman. Updates Renee Zimmer and Valli Krishnaswamy, eMail Renee: CZimmer@t-online.de