Although the strictest lockdown conditions were eased in Southern India, people in tribal areas are still facing impaired access to food supply. Where limited transportation facilities and shortened opening hours of grocery shops restrict people’s possibilities, it adds onto job loss in the formal and informal sector and a third wave of COVID-19 infections. Access to essential products have become the focus of the people’s need and it is right there where Karl Kübel Foundation (KKF) and Making More Health (MMH) have engaged with the Dry ration kit distribution.

While masks and soaps were distributed earlier on among the tribal community in 16 villages in the Anaikatti area, a new distribution campaign was carried out in August. This time, 1030 kits (filled with a total of 5150 soaps, 3090 kg rice and 1030 kg lentils) were given out to people in the villages. Here, KKF and MMH intend to enable children, youth and women of the community to cope with the changing situations through community-centric livelihood approaches.

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As Selvaraj, our local project manager and partner from Karl Kübel Institute for Development education (KKID) explained: ”The people in the tribal communities are very happy to receive this help. Many of them have lost their formal and informal jobs during the past months.”

Furthermore, efforts are made to mobilize the government to vaccinate the community members in the respective villages and people are constantly reminded to observe the COVID protocols – like hand wash, wearing masks, or maintaining social distancing.

The consequences from the global pandemic will continue and have a huge impact on the families and communities  we are working with also in the next months – financially, but also in terms of growing number of mental health issues, violence and loss of jobs .

With our MMH activities (such as hygiene programs, soap making, kindergarten buildings, health training sessions etc ) which are ongoing (where possible) we try to support also basic needs. The lack of food is one of the most urgent ones.  More health means also to ensure enough food.

If you are interested to help, please contact us.