The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown has changed the world as we knew it. Marginalised communities like sex workers, gender/sexual minorities, daily wage labourers, craftsmen, among others, are among the worst hit. Solidarity Foundation provided relief to over 4500 people during the lockdown.
We provided dry rations, essential needs like personal hygiene/sanitary items, medicines, protective gear (gloves and masks), nutritional supplements among others. Our multilingual, pan-India mental healthcare helpline for gender/sexual minorities has become a crucial intervention in handling fear, anxieties and stress.
Our years of work-experience on the ground helped us reach a diverse population including sex workers, gender/sexual minorities, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Dalits, Bahujans, Adivasis, Muslims, street vendors, migrant workers, elderly persons and auto-rickshaw drivers.
We want to thank the following people and organisations for helping us route relief to the needy:
Individuals/Fellows:
Bhagat Bhandage, Gadag district, Karnataka
Kommuri Priyanka, Ongole, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh
Prabhavati Ashok Kamble, Belagavi district Karnataka
Jogappas in Gadag and Bijapur districts, Karnataka
Potluri Devi, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
T. Pushpavathi, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh
Gangabhavani M., Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh
Gangadhar, Doddaballapur, Bangalore Rural district, Karnataka
Tejaswini, Vidyaranyapura and Mathikere, Bangalore, Karnataka
Umesh P, Mathikere and Kengeri, Bangalore
Ratnamma, Bommanahalli, Bangalore
T. M. Krishna, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
2 fellows in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, a GSM individual in Bijapur district, Karnataka, and 1 person in Bapuji Nagara, Bangalore, wanted to remain anonymous.
Organisations:
Modern Awareness Society (MAS), Warangal district, Telangana
Vision Group, Karimnagar, Rajanna-Sircilla, Peddapalle and Jagtiyal districts, Telangana
Hosa Kanasu, Yadgir district, Karnataka
Navajeevana Sanghatane, Bommanahalli (Bangalore Urban district), Karnataka
Krishna Vennela Mahila Society (KVMS), Nandigama, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh
Ashakirana Samajika Seva Samasthe, Yadgir district, Karnataka
Raksha Samudaya Sangha, Shivamogga district, Karnataka
Samatha Society, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka
Samarthya Arogya Matthu Samajika Seva Samasthe, Hubbali-Dharwad district, Karnataka
Samara society Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore, Karnataka
Karnataka Vikalachetanara Samasthe (KVS), Chikaballpur district, Karnataka
Karnataka Sex Workers’ Union (KSWU)
Samara Society Dharwad, Hubbali-Dharwad district, Karnataka
Navyasri Mahila Welfare Society, Warangal district, Telangana
Apta Mitra, Raichur district, Karnataka
Humanity Foundation, Belagavi district, Karnataka
Abhaya Spandhana, Davangere district, Karnataka
Sumanasa Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Media glimpses of our relief efforts
English
1. A heart of gold, iron grit: Marginalised turn saviours during lockdown , The Federal
Stigma, Stress, and Struggle: COVID-19’s impact on India’s grassroots gender/sexual minorities and sex worker communities , The Reality of Aid Network
This trans woman is feeding vulnerable people in her neighbourhood to help them survive the coronavirus crisis , Pink News UK
Overcoming Hunger & Prejudices: S. Veena, Bengaluru , Coca-Cola India
Breaking the Silence in times of COVID-19 by All Out featuring some of our partners’ experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown
Regional languages
Urdu
Kannada
Pushpavati’s COVID-19 lockdown relief work in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh reported by Andhra Prabha (Telugu daily )
Raksha Samudaya Sangha’s ration kit distribution to GSM persons in Shivamogga district, Karnataka featured in Azad Hind , a Kannada news bulletin, and Navika , a Kannada daily
Navajeevana Sanghatane’s relief work in Bangalore featured in Indu Sanje, a Kannada eveninger (last page)
Telugu
Navajeevana Sanghatane’s relief work in Bangalore featured in Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy , Telugu dailies
Priyanka, our fellow, distributed ration kits and other essentials to gender/sexual minorities in Ongole, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh - featured in Surya Prakasam, and Vaartha, Telugu dailies
Asha Kirana’s ration kit distribution to Jogappas & other gender/sexual minorities featured in Yadgiri Times, a Kannada daily
Webinars hosting our fellows and partners
1. COVID-19 and Inequities: Lessons from HIV Pandemic by PRAXIS Institute of Participatory Practices on May 15th, 2020 featuring Kiran Nayak B, an adivasi transman with a disability and our former fellow, and our present intersex fellow, Gangabhavani M. You can read the minutes of the webinar here, and listen to the recording here.
2. Resourcing Grassroots Work: Runaway Donors and Struggling Community-based Organisations by PRAXIS Institute of Participatory Practices on 3rd June, 2020 featuring Oruganti Laila, founder and President, Modern Awareness Society (MAS), Warangal, Telangana and co-founder and President, Telangana Hijra Transgender Samiti.
3. Intersex Voices: a webinar and discussion featuring Shaktishree Maya, Vino, SRC, Neeraja Sajan, researcher, TISS Mumbai and other members of the Intersex Human RiIghts India (IHRI) network, along with Dr. Sameera Jahagirdar, Critical Care specialist and member, Gender Care Team (Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry), Dr. Sruti Chandrasekaran (Endocrinologist, Chennai). Organised by IHRI in collaboration with Nirangal, SAATHII and Solidarity Foundation on June 19th, 2020.