Covid Direct Relief Support at Keystone

The impact of the lockdown induced by the COVID-19 pandemic had a lasting impact on food security and nutritional needs of marginalized communities in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. One of the consequences was that undernourished children, women, and the elderly in these were left more susceptible to the pandemic. During the lockdown, a decline in the availability of wage work has further impacted tribal and urban slum households, particularly families with limited earning capacities.

Our Reach

Efforts were directed towards providing relief materials, rehabilitating community health systems & access to healthcare, and reviving traditionally livelihoods.

Since the first lockdown in March 2019, our team has been utilizing available funds while simultaneously raising new funds to address the myriad of needs and demands in our working regions.

Our relief services were initially to assuage the food crisis that indigenous and urban margnialized communities in Coonoor, Kotagiri and Coimbatore were experiencing. As the pandemic’s threat receded (for a while), and lockdowns were easied, prudent measures to help sustain communities (eight working regions) were implemented.

These include periodical medical checkups for sanitary workers, seeds for a community kitchen garden and traditional farming, enterprise models for women groups to earn income, etc were some of the key long-term initiatives that we still render support to.

The Numbers

The statistics below provide an idea of the relief support that was provided from March 27, 2019 to December 31, 2021.

17,187

Food/ nutrition Kits

To ensure families have availability of essential food grains to have a balanced diet.

32,000 ~

Hygiene/ safety kits

Safeguarding the health of sanitation workers and individuals working on ground.

968

Covid Relief Packages

Monthly supplies were provided to households with Covid patients and to those who lost employment.

3,112

Seed support for farmers

Millet, paddy and vegetable seeds (mustard, spinach & pumpkin) were supplied to farmers.

3

Medical grade oxygen

Two oxygen concentrators and an adsorption plant (Govt. Hospital Kotagiri) were donated.