In the very first week of March, 2020 when India entered the lockdown period to curb the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, from politicians to policy makers, every body had called upon NGOs and civil society organisations (CSOs) to come forward to help the vulnerable section including women, children, old people, migrant workers and daily wage earners by way of providing food, ration, water, sanitizer, masks, medicine, transport support and protective gear, besides assisting in awareness campaigns. Development experts believe that without NGOs and civil society support, the Governments at the Center and State level could not have handled the pandemic alone. It is important to understand the roles as well as responsibilities of different stakeholders like Central Government, State Government, urban local bodies, Panchayati Raj institutions, NGOs and CSOs to work in tandem to address the pandemic.
NGOs, CSOs, Resident Welfare Organisations (RWAs) can play a meaningful role as implementers of Government policies and advise the Government for appropriate policies at the grass roots level. Despite the vast diversities existing between the areas and the people, the voluntary sectors have provided the much needed link between the Government and the population by identifying the needs of the community. Delivery of relief materials such as dry ration and sanitation kits, community awareness and sensitisation, setting up health camps and isolation facilities, rescuing stranded labourers, provision of direct cash transfers, offering rehabilitation of the distressed communities are some of the important works carried out by NGOs and CSOs in these difficult times.
During the pandemic and the lockdown induced by it, NGOs and CSOs first thought how to reach out to the remotest regions of the operational areas, including urban slums and villages, spreading awareness, distributing relief materials and advocating for the access and availability of services. Social-distancing, best practices related to public health and hygiene and behaviour changes regarding cleanliess of hands and mouth ,using sanitizer, face masks and following Government guidelines were the ways to protect people from community spreading of the epidemic.
These were parts of the awareness development programme conducted by some NGOs and CSOs on conservation of nature, cleaning of home, gardening, taking care of old people, caring of pets, wall paintings and short videos on hand washing, social distancing and wearing masks. Apart from this, NGOs and CSOs remained connected with the masses through phone calls and sending text messages in keeping with social distancing protocols. Some NGOs were doing awareness and advocacy programmes for communities and local Government on stopping wrong information on spreading of the viruses , providing relief distribution and rehabilitation work through volunteer network in collaboration with the Government channels.
NGOs and CSOs have shown the grit and resilience in tackling against Covid-19 and their contributions were invaluable. The Government should help NGOs to set up community based small manufacturing unit like PPE (mask and sanitizer). This will provide employment opportunities at community level. In rural areas NGOs can facilitate distribution of agriculture seeds and fertilizer and help in sale for agricultural produce.
NGOs can identify solutions to creating employment in rural areas. There is no denying that the CSOs have collaborated with the Government at different levels in a constructive and meaningful way to build back society and enhanced India’s preparedness to face any threat to the development.
NGOs can share their experiences from the field and support in crafting solutions in coordinating with the Government. The evidences and experiences from the ground levels should be used for policy implementation on Covid-19.