We, at IDIA, are doing our bit in the fight against the pandemic. We have launched a pilot in rural areas of West Bengal, and have set up isolation centres, boat ambulances, and verified information portals. We will also be launching other initiatives. We have also distributed pulse oximeters in parts of Himachal Pradesh.

As India grapples with the second wave of COVID-19, IDIA (being a grassroots community-oriented organization) desires to contribute its bit to fight this battle by setting up “Isolation Centers” in the Sundarbans area of West Bengal. These isolation centers will be in some of the villages for people with mild symptoms of COVID-19 where there is lack of resources such as space, medicines, and medical equipment to self-isolate.

Our response includes:

a) Establishing centers that will allow isolation to those with symptoms before hospitalization.

b) The centers will be rural-focused with the first one in a village called Murokhali in West Bengal.

c) The centers will have medicines, food, and other basic facilities.

The first of the many such isolation centers has been set up at the Murokhali village in Sundarbans. It can also accommodate people from the following nearby villages: Choto Geokhali, Boro Geokhali, Chak, Purandar, Krishanagar.

In Sundarbans, many remote villages are best accessible through the waterways. In order to meet the needs of these remote villages, IDIA will be setting up boat ambulances that can be used in cases of emergency.

The first such ambulance has been set up at Purba Sripatinagar which is in a remote corner of Sunderbans. The boat ambulance has been equipped with medicines, thermometer, pulse oximeter, sanitisers, mineral water, PPE kits for attendants and boatman etc. It will reduce the time needed to reach the nearby hospital by half. IDIA hopes to set up more such ambulances. We have assisted 30 villagers to get tested for COVID 19 by providing transportation to Madhabnagar Government Hospital, which is 2 hours away.

300 pulse oximeters have been procured for distribution in Himachal Pradesh. They will be handed over to the authorities and hospitals of Kullu and Lahaul Spiti for being lent to people with symptoms on a returnable basis. Distribution has already started. 100 digital thermometers have also been procured for distribution. This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with Smriti Parsheers, Abhishek Parsheera and Shaili Parsheera.

In addition, IDIA is trying to:

• Launch Covid-19 sensitization drives along with distribution of masks, soaps, etc.
• Establish blood donation camps.
• Organizing medical tests, including oximeter checks, at centers in rural West Bengal.

We distributed food and essential provisions such as rice, pulses, cooking oil, soaps, sanitary napkins, etc. in the Sundarbans and Kolkata depending on the needs of the families in the community.

In collaboration with “Prantojon” initiative, we distributed 300 books to establish Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer Night School & Library! We also donated bookshelves. This has helped nearly 2000 students all of whom come from the most marginalized communities.

We helped in the construction of a tele tower in a remote village called Purbo Shreepati Nagar in the Sundarbans  to help make online education accessible in the time of the pandemic.

We helped in the construction of houses in the Beleghata slum in Kolkata for families who were left without shelter due to the onslaught of Cyclone Amphan.

• In 12 distribution drives across 14 villages in West Bengal, we distributed relief material to 1600+ families.
• By establishing Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer Night School & Library in Chaltaberia village of Bhangar Li Thesil, we provided access to around 2000 students from marginalized communities to basic books and study facilities.
• We have constructed 10 houses in the Beleghata slum in Kolkata till now.

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For any ideas or suggestions, etc., please write to us info@idialaw.org;