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COVID response

Working People’s Charter along with Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan and other workers’ organisations has written to CM maharashtra demanding the extension of covid relief package to non registered informal workers, Gig workers, recycling workers, Naka workers, street vendors, home based workers etc. It has also demanded moratorium on eviction during pandemic.

Access the full letter here

Joint recommendations from civil society organisations concerning new restrictions announced in light of increasing number of COVID cases in the state of Maharashtra

6th April 2021

8 point recommendation by 39 civil society organisations and activists from Maharashtra, who are engaged in human rights work with different communities and have also been extensively involved in relief work and advocacy throughout the pandemic and consequent lockdown. The letter to the Maharashtra government puts forth the pressing concerns regarding the new restrictions announced in light of increasing number of COVID cases in the state of Maharashtra.

  1. Suggestions to prevent a migrant workers crisis again (adequate notice, food security, re-establish migrant shelters, cash transfer and support, constant monitoring/survey)
  2. Ensure food security for all
  3. Housing, shelter and amenities
  4. Healthcare
  5. Vaccinations
  6. Suggestions to minimize effect of current restrictions on workers and livelihood
  7. Coordinated and humane implementation of the new restrictions
  8. Setting up of 24-hour helpline

The letter also request for a personal meeting to discuss the suggestions and explore possibilities of civil society collaborations through constructive engagement and consultation, with an aim to create an effective response to the pandemic and resulting crisis, in the interests of the people.

Read Letter to CM regarding new restrictions. 

URBAN PLANNING RESPONSE IN MUMBAI DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: A CITIZEN’S CHARTER

15th April 2020

As the first phase (21 days) of the COVID-19 lockdown ends and an additional fortnight is imposed, the State of Maharashtra and the Union of India need to revisit their current policies and responses. Over the last two weeks information coming from surveys from low income neighbourhoods in Mumbai indicate the lack of planning and management that ought to have been in place by now. This document provides an action plan for the city of Mumbai that can help the government respond in more equitable and effective manner over the next few weeks in the effort to overcome the pandemic.

Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao, along with four civil society organizations, outlines an urban action plan for the second phase of the lockdown (14th April to 30th April 2020) imposed by the government during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Read the report on urban planning response for covid

The citizens charter was prepared by

1. Collective for Spatial Alternatives – CSA
2. Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan
3. Homeless Collective
4. Human Rights Law Network
5. Pani Haq Samiti

 

REPRESENTATION TO DISTRICT COLLECTORS TO ADDRESS GAPS WHERE BENEFITS/FACILITIES HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED DURING THE PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN

12th April 2020

Read the petition here: representation to District collectors

A number of big and small organisations including GBGBA are doing relief work in the current situation of lockdown. We at GBGBA have been providing dry food ration, cooked food, protective gears and other essential itemsto poor and needy persons. However, it seems that even the combined efforts of voluntary organisations and government are not able to reach out to the abundant poor population of the city (which has half of its population living in slums / informal settlements) in order to provide relief. While there are gaps in the schemes introduced by the government to address issues of food and other requirements of the poor, daily wage earners and marginalized groups on account of this lockdown, there are also gaps in the implementation of the existing schemes.

We identified a number of issues being faced by poor persons living in slums due to the lockdown to contain COVID-19 and urge the administration to look into these issues and address them on an urgent basis.

 

DONATE TO PROVIDE RATION TO POOR FAMILIES/DAILY WAGE EARNERS AFFECTED BY LOCKDOWN

Those who are worst affected by the COVID-19 Lockdown are the daily wagers. We see them around as vegetable vendors, construction workers, auto-rickshaw, OLA/Uber taxi drivers, domestic helper and other informal workers. They do not have enough savings or ration to sustain a long lockdown.

Our governments are doing their best to stop COVID-19 but it is also our responsibility to cooperate with the government and standby our fellow poor citizens in time of need.

In Mumbai, we have identified 800-1000 families in slums of Malvani and Govandi who have absolutely no support. We have decided to provide them with support in the form of packages of food and other essential items. This package will contain supplies for 10-10 days. Supplies will be distributed through a network of our volunteers in respective slums. Wheat flour, Rice, Toor Dal, Oil, Sugar, Poha, Tea, Rawa, Washing Powder and Bathing Soap will be there in each packet. Cost of each packet is Rs. 1000/-.

To make it possible we will need your support to ensure enough food supplies till the time lockdown is lifted. As of now, we are aiming to provide support for a month.

Please donate generously so that we can enable our poor fellow citizens to fight Corona Virus confidently without worrying about food insecurity.

Donate here