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Highlights Of Rebuilding Lives Telethon: A Campaign To Rehabilitate Migrant Workers Affected By Coronavirus Lockdown
Around 40 million migrant daily-waged workers have been hit hard by the lockdown imposed in the wake of COVID-19. Rebuilding Lives is an action-oriented campaign by American India Foundation (AIF) in partnership with NDTV to rebuild the lives of migrant communities. The need of the hour is for immediate relief to serve urgent needs, equal attention is required towards a sustainable and resilient rebuilding of lives through a multi-pronged response, addressing health, education and livelihoods.
Here are the highlights of the #RebuildingLives Telethon:
Lata Krishnan, Co-Founder and Co-chair, American India Foundation donates Rs. 37.5 Lakh during the telethon:
You know the migrants of which there are many millions in India are some of the most deprived communities in India. They live a hard life. Their lives are uncertain and usually getting out of this plight is practically impossible. So, we just feel it very strongly that we need to educate their children, empower their livelihoods so that they too can prosper and get to a better place for their children. Isn't that what we all want, a better world for our children?
I would like to salute all the individuals and co-operations who have gone out of their way to help the plight of the migrants this past many weeks. It has been devastating for many of us to see and watch the news everyday of lives being destroyed, children not attending schools, people walking from their cities to their villages, not having food to eat. I mean it is devastating and I think that we as a community need to rise and support the underprivileged.
I urge each and everyone of you that is watching today to think about the power of engagement. To be engaged, to participate in the solution.
Around 40 million migrant daily-waged workers have been hit hard by COVID-19 induced economic distress, lockdowns, travel bans and social distancing requirements. As they reach home enduring unprecedented ordeals, they face the risk of hunger, indebtedness and prolonged unemployment.
Their families face high infection risk and their children, particularly girls, the loss of learning.
While the need of the hour is for immediate relief to serve urgent needs, equal attention is required towards a sustainable and resilient rebuilding of lives through a multi-pronged response, addressing health, education and livelihoods needs - both in the source and destination areas of migration.
This crisis has also shown us the spirit of our community. We are truly inspired by the way citizens, non-profits, corporates and the government have come together to help those in need. As first responders, American India Foundation (AIF) has served 272,000 people across 16 states of India and has now joined hands with NDTV to raise awareness and resources to complement the government’s efforts to rehabilitate migrant families.
Serve immediate and urgent needs of migrant communities, especially women and girls, with a focus on migration affected states
Emergency Relief:
- Address immediate needs of migrants through food, hygiene essentials/unconditional money transfers
Livelihoods & Income Generation:
- At least one member of a migrant household acquires a fresh skill/get upskilled and gain livelihood to increase household income
Public Health:
- Protect and train community health workers (CHW) on pandemic preparedness and using digital tools
- Support vulnerable communities in protecting themselves from Covid-19
Education:
- Bridge the educational and digital divide through techno-pedagogy and virtual learning in government schools in a Covid-safe environment
- Ensure continuity of education and remediation in community settings especially for young girls and adolescents