Latest Coronavirus news from India
India is poised to overtake the USA to have the largest number of COVID-19 infections in the world with its current rate of over 75,000 new infections every day. The reported deaths are half that of the USA, but it is likely that the real figure is much higher than the 103 thousand deaths currently being reported. This is because nonhospital deaths are under-reported.
Tamil Nadu is the third most affected state in India and, as a result, has suffered more restrictions than others. Initially, most cases were in the urban areas but now it has spread into the rural areas as the lockdowns have been removed and transport services resumed. All three of our partner organisations report infections in their area of operations. Employment is slowly getting back to previous levels, with the begging community that CARE operates with still being badly hit. Schooling has not yet been resumed in the state and is a major concern.
Elderly women at a Salt of the Earth Health camp, socially distance as they receive free health check up for our Doctor.
What have our NGOs’ staff in India been doing during lockdown?
Throughout the pandemic, the full-time staff of all three of our partner organisations have stayed working and have kept in good touch with the villages they support. All these villages have part-time trained “volunteers” living there who have worked tirelessly on behalf of their community. They have been invaluable in distributing emergency dry food and meals to the most disadvantaged as well as providing health materials and advice and all-round support.
The staff at our NGO's have been working tirelessly to ensure that the children and rural families they support are kept fed and supported during lock-down
What has happened to the SOTE projects that were planned to go ahead in 2020?
The lockdown at the end of March meant that many of the projects we support had to be postponed or reduced. We are glad to report that most of them are now operating albeit with strict mask and separation rules. The mobile clinics and associated health services are now back, and the tree planting programme is well underway. In the absence of schooling, suitably trained volunteers are running classes for primary school pupils following social distancing measures. In some areas, secondary school pupils are gathered to watch online TV education programmes using specially modified receivers. Midday meals are provided for all who attend these sessions.
Class conducted by NGO, following safety measures. Without our intervention, the children in hard to reach villages are left completely without education and support.
Has the situation in the hard to reach villages of Tamil Nadu improved in recent months?
The situation in the villages has improved but is by no means back to what was called normal. It would appear that the Indian government is now taking the position that the economic danger is greater than the health risk. This is not surprising as there was a 24% reduction in the economy in the second quarter making India the fastest contracting large economy in the world. Our assessment, and that of our partner organisations, is that the villages will continue to experience difficulties for the rest of the year and beyond. We are therefore keeping the emergency appeal fund open. Particular attention is and will continue to be paid to providing education to as many pupils as possible as well as food aid to those who are still being badly affected.
All three partners are most grateful to the considerable timely aid that SOTE has been able to provide them thanks to our generous and committed supporters. There is no doubt that lives have been saved and much suffering has been avoided and the work continues.
Our humanitarian appeal for COVID-19 has so far raised over £50,000. Every penny of this fund will go to our three partner organisations in Tamil Nadu without any deductions. Your donations are helping to provide food, water, healthcare and education to rural poor communities.
Thank you
Who are Salt of the Earth?
Salt of the Earth (SOTE) are a Leicester (UK) based charity that fund rural development projects in the hard to reach villages of Tamil Nadu, India. Over the past 35 years, SOTE has raised over £4.5 million and helped to transform the lives of over 1.5 million people living in rural poverty. SOTE fund Women’s development, water generation and purification, education, job generation, livelihood and environmental projects.
