As we gradually unlock the restrictions necessitated by the Covid19 Pandemic, Centre for Social Action is working towards supporting the vulnerable to revive their livelihoods or seek alternate means of income generation.

In the rural context of Raigad, we are planning to revive the production and sale of products like Nachni Flour, Pickles, Ladoos, etc., which were a great success in the last financial year until it had to be suspended due to the Covid19 Pandemic. In the process of restarting we are insisting on Covid19 hygiene practices being taught to the Tribal women, and strict supervision of the same, for the well-being of those involved in food production as well as the consumers. We are also looking to support the tribal SHGs with back yard poultry, goat rearing, beekeeping, vegetable gardens, etc. These will be connected with various government schemes for grants or micro-credit facilities, they will be mentored and monitored through regular meetings and trainings. They will also be provided with access to urban markets.

These groups will also continue with the Financial Literacy sessions, which help them to understand and make best use of the Banking System, inculcates in them the habit of regular savings, and protects them from the vicious clutches of moneylenders. An added component this year is the digital literacy, which includes not only online communications and meetings, but also sessions on safe digital banking transactions.

Vocational skill development sessions are planned for youth from both rural and urban areas. We are planning online courses, with practical sessions in small batches of 5 participants each, with due covid19 safety regulations, when the unlock guidelines permit us to do so. We are looking at courses for retail sales associates, hospitality, housekeeping, repair of home appliances, which will be coupled with soft silks for personality development, English speaking, how to write CV and appear for interviews, and also basic computer skills to enhance the employability of the youth.

In the urban areas of Mumbai and Thane, in addition to the above mentioned vocational skill development courses, we are planning to help women’s groups with a variety of livelihood trainings to produce face masks, imitation jewellery, beauticians course, etc., and resume the domestic workers skill enhancement trainings which have been very successful over the last 3 years in transforming them into little ”home managers”. We have been encouraging and guiding tuition teachers to use online tools for resuming their classes, since for many it was their only source of livelihood.

We continue to coordinate with the Covid19 Response committees of the parishes, listening to the issues faced at the grassroots and offering them various resources to respond to the same; these are also available for quick reference on our ‘Covid19 Resources’ page of CSA website https://csamumbai.in/covid-19-resources/ . We are making a special effort to facilitate access to various Government schemes, especially for micro-entrepreneurship.

This year our Capacity Building course, which equips common persons with basic social work skills, is being conducted online. We have two batches, one in English and the other in a combination of Marathi and Hindi, due to the tremendous response. The first session of the course was on Safe Digital Transactions, and the participants were enabled to make a trial transaction to gain hands on experience.

All the above programs, both in rural and urban areas, will have a special emphasis on Covid19 Safety practices, and will train every participant to ensure their own safety as well as prevent the spread of Covid19 infection.

In preparation for the above-mentioned programs, we have not only trained CSA staff, but also the staff of the Church Organisations partnering with us, and the grassroot beneficiaries to use the online means of communications. It is indeed heartening to see their enthusiastic response, even as they use tools like Google Meet, Google Forms and Sheets, and ODK Collect; as one of them exclaimed, “our family and neighbours look up to us now since we are using and teaching others to use online means of communication.”

 -Fr. Mario Mendes, Director, Centre for Social Action