In the State Government’s campaign against coronavirus, the women members of Sakhi Mandal are playing a significant role in the remote village of Jharkhand. From making masks and sanitizers, to providing rice to the poor tribal families and feeding those starving, these women are supporting the government in this fight. Women of Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) Sakhi Mandal are contributing on every front under the Rural Development Department. Hundreds of women are involved in making masks, sanitizers and operating canteens.
In Palamu district, these women have made about 90,000 masks and 9,000 sachets of sanitizers while more than 1,08,000 masks and about 27,000 bottles of sanitizers have been made across the State by Sakhi Mandal. In Giridih, the unit has provided about five liters of sanitizer and 200 masks free of cost to all primary health centres. Numerous Sakhi Mandals across Jharkhand are also providing food grains to the poor around their villages. In districts like Hazaribag, Simdega, Bokaro, Jamtara, Pakur these women are also preparing food for the needy and passersby so that no one starves in this situation.
The women are also operating dal bhat canteens and are providing a meal at Rs 5 to the needy. At the same time, Banking Correspondent Sakhi are continuously providing services so that people in the villages do not face any problems regarding cash and pension.
The women are also involved in making aprons. They are also helping the administration in identifying people coming from outside to quarantine them. They are also creating awareness on how to stay safe during these times.
A ‘Didi Helpline’ number has also been launched which will be active 24X7 for migrant labourers stranded away from their villages during the crises. The toll- free numbers for the same are 1800-4190-400 and 1800-4197-400.