Best Practices

CoronaResponse > Best Practices

To enable cross learning and ease of access to effective response measures to Covid-19, we document a compendium of best practices from various states in India. These responses range from assistance to lorry drivers to the set up of community kitchens, from discouraging social ostracisation to forming resident associations to feed migrants.

Along with best practices of the state and local governments, we also document initiatives undertaken by non governmental groups such as Goonj and community interventions such as the Break the Chain Initiative. It is our hope that these initiatives and stories will inspire communities to devise unique ways of moulding their response to the social challenges posed by the pandemic.

We have outlined quick summaries of these successful best practices and hope that these will continue to set an example of proactive action against the pandemic.

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Kudumbashree units at Kasargod (Kerala-Karnataka) border assist Lorry Drivers who come into the state with essential supplies

In association with Kasargod District Administration, Kudumbashree, the poverty eradication and women empowerment programme implemented by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM) of the Government of Kerala are assisting tired lorry drivers crossing state borders with essential supplies. The lorry drivers are served meals at heavily subsidised rates.

Community Kitchens Across Kerala for Migrant Labourers

To ensure the food security of migrant labourers and other vulnerable persons in Kerala, the state has set up 1255 community kitchens across 14 districts to cater to their needs. The state has instructed every panchayat to open these community kitchens. Further, it has instructed panchayats to open helplines connected to these kitchens. Home cooked meals will be home delivered to the elderly, differently-abled and the homeless. This initiative currently serves 28 lakh food packets.

The Federation of Residents’ Associations Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT) joins drive against the pandemic; discourages residents to ostracize persons suspected of being infected

In a bid to support the state’s “Break the Chain” initiative, resident associations in some areas such as Thiruvananthapuram have come out with various efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by ensuring their surroundings are clear and hygienic. Resident associations such as FRAT have been contributing to the drive against the pandemic by distributing hand sanitisers, liquid soaps and masks and creating awareness about physical distancing, Further, they have stated that no person who is suspected of being infected should face any kind of discrimination or be ostracised in any way.

Kerala creates a 17 member expert committee to come up with a lockdown exit strategy

An expert committee comprising 17 experts from different fields recommends a district-wise phasing of the lockdown. The committee provided various suggestions to keep the Covid-19 patient caseload below the surge capacity of the healthcare system to deal with it. The committee kept in mind the state’s current economic capacities and identified specific impacts on the poorest and various vulnerable groups.

Residents Team Up to Feed Migrants

Although the state Government has assured that all residents with ration cards will receive provisions due to them under various food security legislations, a large number of people do not have the required documentation to access the PDS systems. In Thane and Ambivali areas, residents of various housing societies have partnered with the Thane Municipal Corporation to set up community kitchens to feed 250 and 400 migrant families respectively

Delhi-headquartered 'Goonj' has initiated 'Rahat Covid-19'

In 18 states, the NGO Goonj has created a need-based relief model and through network of grassroot leadership has reached out to over 17,000 families and other vulnerable communities including sex workers, migrant labourers, daily-wage earners, elderly, single mothers, rag pickers, amongst others. They have distributed over 15,000 food kits as well as masks, hand sanitisers, sanitary napkins and have set-up 12 community kitchens

Kindness and Care Mongering (Not Scaremongering) During Covid

Caremongers India – a Facebook group, asking people to “stop scaremongering and start caremongering” was launched on 17 March 2020. Today there is a pan-India network of volunteers of 6500 persons who help at-risk persons such as the elderly, the disabled, those with pre-existing health conditions and anyone with an infant under a year. The receive requests and volunteers respond to those. Requests could be as simple as shopping for groceries or other essentials to providing all information to elderly people who are not tech-savvy.

#HELPTHEHUNGRY Initiative

Citizen groups as part of the #helpthehungry initiative help homeless, daily wage earners, the elderly and destitute people in Hyderabad. Care packages consisting of food, basic toiletries and medicines are distributed. Residents share grocery supplies with their neighbours.

Quarantined migrant labourers in Rajasthan's Sikar paint village school in return for good care

Several migrant workers who were quarantined in a school in the Sikar district of Rajasthan were filled with gratitude for the kind of the hospitality extended to them by the school authorities during their self-isolation. As an expression of their gratitude and appreciation.

Supporting Sanitation Workers & Providing Employment in Telangana

In Telangana, around 150 women who are part of an urban women SHG have been provided with the task of stitching 45,000 cloth masks to supply to the Khammam Municipal Corporation. These masks will then be distributed free of cost to sanitation workers and other health workers free of cost. This initiative not only supports sanitation workers but also provides employment to women, one of the most vulnerable groups during these times.