Administrative support

Since the end of the pandemic is still nowhere in sight, there was a need to extend these measures. This required the supply of several kinds of equipment and consumables such as thermometers, soap dispensers, water dispensers, sanitizers, masks, gloves, disinfectants, cleaning agents, etc. at each of the homes. It was again a challenge to procure these materials in bulk at a reasonable price during the lockdown when such items were being sold at exorbitant rates. The State Programme Manager of Delhi recalls that “None of these materials were available in the open market because most shops were closed and there was no supply coming from outside, but fortunately some promising donors came to our rescue.” The Bengaluru State Programme Manager says, “Some of our donors were kind enough to connect us with their vendors, who helped in delivery of these required materials.” Apart from uninterrupted support from the national office, the inter-state office coordination also played a vital role in procurement of goods. For instance, in the initial period of the lockdown thermal scanners were not available in Bangalore, so when the Pune office found a vendor, they also booked it for the Bangalore office.

Over the subsequent months, adherence to the prescribed guidelines for personal hygiene was gradually becoming stressful for children. The inability to meet their school teachers and parents, the closure of schools and restrictions on movement added to the agony of the children, so every home was encouraged to draw up a daily schedule in consultation with the children of the same home. Routines in all the homes were revisited by the children and caregivers together which was activity based to keep the children engaged in joyful learning processes. In Chennai, group counseling sessions were organized where children engaged in play and expressed their concerns. As an immediate measure, home teams made themselves available to discuss any concerns children might have regarding Covid-19 at any point. Group sessions such as skits, talking to their friends in other homes and family members over video chats, etc. were conducted.

The Internet was the only medium that could be used to conduct classes, either academic or co-curricular activities, in the home. Except for a few of the homes, most homes did not have adequate gadgets through which children could interact with the facilitators. Each state team, with support from national office and local donors, successfully procured the essential equipment required like cameras, laptops, modems, projectors, etc. This was not very easy because of restricted movement and the scarcity of equipment in the market.

“Our donors were a big support in the time of crisis. We could procure all essential items through them when we needed and that too at wholesale prices.” SPM, Bengaluru

The national office of RHP had sensed the upcoming problems of Covid-19 quite early and proactively alerted the state offices to ensure preventive measures were taken. The finance units took swift decisions and ensured that;

All homes procure groceries for at least 2 months Adequate funds were transferred to state offices with advice to provide sufficient cash to homes for dayto-day expenses Banks were requested to support the RFI offices for releasing funds even during lockdown Processes were put in place for quick mobilization of financial resources for additional expenses in the homes

Besides this, the unit in consultation with state and national team identified areas for budget revision to meet the basic programme requirements such as doing away with all travel related to training programs, research for at least a year; focusing on only essentials for the first 6 months; relooking at recruitment, increments and salaries; procuring ration kits for parents and ensuring stock in the homes from the FCI at much cheaper rates; reducing

paid tuition costs by taking volunteer support; reducing monthly rent by combining 2-3 offices into one building or encouraging work-from-home options for non-residential members; curbing travel and admin related cost by using alternative technological options. While no large changes were made to the home budgets, state and national budgets were certainly reduced.

Further, the team prepared a guideline for revision of budgets at all levels, which included the following considerations; - In Program Q Travel cost, capacity building costs were reduced - In KDDC Q Curtailed training costs and travel costs. TOTs and most training were done virtually Q New activities on identified themes for COVID-19 response were added Q Research study was re-planned with additional studies/themes in place in response to COVID-9 crisis - In Futures and Education Q Workshop expenditures were removed, postponed or reoriented using online sessions to ensure some amount of cost saving Q Additional provisions for digital access may include such as tablets, laptops, projector were to allow for easy online interaction Q Additional expenses were budgeted to support Young Adults (YA) to ensure their safety and livelihood of their families Q Alternative arrangements for YAs were planned Q Foundation courses and capacity building of the teachers that were planned under Education can now happen with online sessions. - In Advocacy and RMU Q Orientation sessions were planned virtually with the support of state teams Q Large gatherings, such as dissemination sessions or workshops, were stopped or moved to the third and fourth quarters Q In RMU, more media engagement and sponsorship options were explored Q Greater utilization of online posters, messages, videos clips and virtual platforms for donor pitches Q Cold calls, mails and SMS continued as primary communication with the donors Q Training sessions and workshops of RMU were conducted virtually Q Travel costs in Advocacy and RMU budgets were lowered Q Recruitment and HR costs were lowered

It was decided that multiple channels and multiple sources would be explored to keep the work going and apart from these various other strategies would be looked into.

Hence, supplementary budgets were prepared through a bottom-up approach i.e., starting from home to state to national level. Also, a drive to mobilize additional resources was initiated and as a result, donations from Enamor (Gokuldas) of Rs.11 lakh was received. Hexaware cleared the budget with a first phase influx of Rs.53 lakh. Additionally, Hexaware proposed a scholarship program of Rs.13 lakh, adding to the regular program budget provided to the YAs.

Each city faced different sets of challenges. Some city wise excerpts of updates from homes during the lockdown presents a pertinent scenario of the situation.

P 50% children present in each home. In some homes, the numbers are much lower P Got 5-6 additional rooms in some schools, but not for all homes. Trying for more school spaces, negotiating with school management teams. Verandas and other places are used as sleeping areas. P During the first month of lockdown period only 4 staff in each home; Hired additional home mother for 2 months in some homes P Most residential staff are cooperating and staying to take care of children. All staff mutually support each other. No hierarchy in structure or division of responsibilities at this moment P Enough stocks of groceries and toiletries in all homes. P Weekly markets are still open and no challenge so far in procuring vegetables. However, homes are instructed to keep balance between vegetables with non-perishable food items

P Most of the children in the home (96%) and very few went back to their families. P Dormitories and rooms are still crowded. Carefully distributing children in different places, even libraries, computer rooms etc. P Staff and children are well oriented about the present situation and the Do’s and Don’ts P 2 months’ groceries are ordered. Enough number of toiletries procured. P Advances given to the homes. Transfer of salaries are in process. P It is observed that few home staff members are tense and anxious. Need to suggest some routine for the staff as well with a time slot for their relaxation or entertainment. P However, if the situation continues, we can plan to relieve some of the residential staff replacing them with willing parents or hiring additional people.

P Fewer children in homes, 314 children are outside the homes (those who had gone to their families for

Chhat puja) Sufficient disinfectants, masks and sanitisers are provided to them. P Initially could not avail extra space in any of the homes, but as children were fewer, decongestion was done. Later sufficient rooms were at hand with support from concerned departments P Groceries for next 2 months procured for all homes P All residential staff members were available in the homes, non-residential staff are not coming due to lockdown. P 3 YAs came back to the home as the companies are now closed due to lockdown. They are helping young children in the home P Video call between state and home teams on regular basis P Plans prepared to quarantine children in separate homes If children come back after Chhath Puja P One positive case detected near one home in Patna, hence the homes are being sanitized

P Most children are in the home, only about 10% would be with their families P Additional rooms in ANC may be allotted to the program. There are sick rooms in all the homes now. P Proper decongestion is done in each home with 10 children in each room. Varandas are used as sleeping place for some children to avoid congestion in dormitories P Trying to acquire additional rooms in all the homes. But in most of the schools, the rooms are stacked with books for the new academic session. P Provisions of groceries made for all the homes but for direct homes, provisioning got delayed as the vendors have all shut down their services and are not contactable even over the phone. P Parents are coming to take their children back but we told them not to come. Only parents who have a permanent shelter are allowed to take back their children for this period.

P About 77% of the total children are in homes. P Additional rooms have been allocated by authorities P Residential staff members are willing to stay at the home during this crisis. Trying for hire other team members to help with cleaning of homes P No parents are willing to help in home functioning but we are trying to motivate them for the same. P Sufficient stock of food stuff and other essential consumables have been ensured.

P In Elliot road Loreto home, 35 of 83 children got cold and cough. They were taken to the doctor and kept in isolation as extra rooms were available. P We need to review the timing part and technological issues further with information from each home.

P All 68 children staying in the homes are homeless. So, there is no question of sending them back to their parents, even if the parents insist P Additional rooms were allotted in each homes to avoid congestion in one room P Dry rations of 2 months are procured and milk has been available so far P All residential team members are present in the homes. P The challenge is that home team members in each home are asking for leave for at least 2 days.

Trying to negotiate with them so that they remain in the home till the crisis is over. P One case identified near one of the homes in Chennai, hence the home staff are strictly instructed not to go out at all under any circumstances P State team is in touch with all the team members every 2-3 hours

P Most children are there in homes.

P Social Mobilisers are connecting with individual parents of children who are at the homes to give them updates about their children. Also convincing parents not to take their children back P Tracking of sick children and update on status of improvement P For sick children doctors were consulted over the phone. Some private doctors were called in to check on children.

P State teams are calling each home 3 times a day to get updates, review practices and note down the problems, if any P Govt. schools are having online classes for 8th, 9th and 10th grade children.

P At present, 23 girls and 42 boys are present in the two homes. Some children have gone back but, after receiving a letter from the District Collector, some parents want to send the children back to us. P Sufficient number of rooms, so none of the rooms are crowded. P Rations and toiletries are sufficiently in stock, no problem in procuring water, electricity etc. P Milkman dropping the milk packet at the gate so that no staff need to go out. But procuring vegetables is a challenge. Homes are coping by buying non-perishables such as rajma, pulses etc. P Residential staff members are present in the homes. Planning to prepare a schedule for residential staff to give them some time for relaxation on a rotational basis P If the lock down period extends, we can motivate a few parents to serve as additional help in the homes.

P Home teams have not allowed cleaning staff from outside. So children help home mothers to clean the premises, rooms, toilets etc.

When COVID-19 cases were on the rise and the lockdown measures were becoming more stringent, a midcourse impact assessment of the families related to RHP was undertaken across all cities. This telephonic survey was administered with 670 families of children under RHP across 10 cities (Hyderabad, Anantapur, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, Patna, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi & Ranchi), to capture the status of their current living conditions, health conditions, access of food, occupational characters, incidences of abuse or violence. The survey also investigated the families’ concerns and lists the expectations from the Government and others to ease their struggles for survival at this time of crisis.

The study sought to develop a deeper understanding of the impact of the pandemic on the families of children under Rainbow Homes Program. The major objectives of this situational assessment were; Profiling of families of children who are in Rainbow Homes in terms of gender, age, income, occupational categories and special needs; Identifying the immediate needs of the families in terms of food, shelter and health; physical,

emotional and livelihood challenges as well as incidence of abuse; Mapping the families covered under the emergency relief by Government, Community or any other NGOs; identifying those that are in dire need of relief; Documenting the families’ concerns about themselves during the present crisis and expectations from communities or the Government in the process of their struggles for survival.

Most families had some awareness about the disease and were able to recall at least some of the symptoms and methods of spreading (54%), precautionary measures and hygiene (83%). 17% of families didn’t have any information about the disease. Nevertheless, all of them expressed concern about the safety of their families, especially their children, with regards to the outbreak.

Regarding the impact on income and living conditions, the average income of these households prior to the lockdown was Rs.7000 per month. In more than half of the households, only one person was the sole earning member, mostly employed in the unorganized sector. 81% of the families reported having lost their means to earn a livelihood because of the lockdown. With no income, families had to rely on their savings. While the lockdown in the country lasted for 68 days, 57.9% of the families mentioned their savings could only last for about 7-14 days while another 21% mentioned that it could last for 30 days.

The survey revealed that families struggled to manage their expenses for food, water, access to public toilets, and rent. A total of 43% of families lived in rented accommodation. Of these, 79 percent could not pay rent for the months of March and April 2020; 45% of these families mentioned that there were chances of being evicted. 11% of the sample were living on the streets before the lockdown. But with lockdown, the number of people living on the street drastically dropped to 1%. These families had to find alternate accommodations such as moving back to villages, staying with a friend or relative in the same city or different cities, moving to temporary shelters, etc.

29% of families reported spending money for drinking water, on top of other expenses such as food and rent. Similarly, 12% of families reported using pay-and-use toilets which placed an additional financial burden upon them due to loss of income.

In terms of managing expenses, 42% had taken loans from employers, friends or relatives or local money lenders against hefty interest rates; 5.6% sold assets such as jewelry; 5.8% bought food on credit. Regarding access to health and medication 26.5% of families reported having chronic illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, TB, HIV/AIDS, out of which 78% were undergoing some form of medication or treatment before the lockdown. 32% could not afford to continue treatment during lockdown. 13% of the sample reported disability in some form and 28% of the families reported being in an accident (indoors or outdoors) during the lockdown.

During the lockdown, about 46% of families reported eating only two meals a day, whereas another 7% reported eating only one meal per day. Roughly, 19% of the families, at the time of the interviews reported complete starvation for 2 days or more until receiving support with food or dry ration. Both central and state governments announced free distribution of provisions through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Various non-government and volunteer groups also stepped up to provide relief. Overall, 31% of families reported receiving cooked food support, whereas 89% of families received dry rations at least once during the lockdown.

Also, 43% of the families had no identification documents and 64% did not have a ration card. As a result, none of these families were able to receive any support from the PDS.

There are considerable direct and indirect long-term impacts of COVID-19 on these families, particularly the children, elderly, immunocompromised and malnourished members of these families. It can be presumed that the lack of proper food and nutrition, loss of income, lack of access to health and medication, increasing mental health related concerns, increasing domestic violence and abuse could only lead to larger long-term complications that could very well set back the “growth” in these families by a few decades.

Impact of the pandemic on the economic condition of these families is a major area of concern because the economic downturn greatly affected people from the lower socio-economic stratum, in particular those working in non-group-based work like domestic helpers, daily wage-based workers, etc. Without any sources of income, families who reported having cash in hand for only a few days in the first month of lock down, might have already exhausted their cash supplies. Many of them might have resorted to borrowing money to have cash in hand, thus putting themselves into an increased debt trap. With prolonged lack of employment, an increasing number of families would take up low wage jobs and restrict spending, thus adding to the possibility of malnutrition and compromising on health-related precautions (use of masks, hand washing with soaps, seeking medical advice in case of cough and fever, etc.). During this time of uncertainty and fear, another significant impact is observed with regards to the mental health of families, especially among single mothers, attributed to factors such as, housing instability, chronic stress, heightened domestic violence, etc. Research shows that income loss or job loss is associated with increased depression, anxiety, distress, and low self-esteem and may lead to higher rates of substance abuse and suicide. Therefore, all the 81% of families who could not earn a livelihood during the lockdown or the 62% of families who went into an increased debt trap by borrowing money from others might report higher rates of major negative mental health impacts in the long-run. Incidences of starvation revealed in the survey indicate the grim details of how people living in poverty struggled to feed their families adequately since lockdown and how debilitating it was for households with young children. More than half of the families reported having a maximum of two meals a day and going hungry. More than half of the families did not have ration cards and hence could not access provisions of ration from PDS. With continued income loss, absence of ration card, direct cash transfer from government or food assistance, 88% of families who reported having rations available for a month would cut their meals from thrice to twice a day, from twice to only one meal a day and then skip meals in coming months. Food insecurity, therefore, is a continual source of concern and worry as it heightens malnutrition among children and lack of essential nutrition among adults. Another important impact of the pandemic to be considered is the increased domestic violence among the surveyed families. As incomes ground to a halt and working-class families struggled to make ends meet, the physical and psychological impacts were particularly significant on women family members and children. Many women members complained that with no work, men in their families increased their consumption of alcohol on the pretext of frustration and stress. Women members might have been forced to surrender their savings to male members addicted to alcohol, and in case they denied, they had been victims of violence. In the absence of cash in hand, some of the men might acquire loans from friends and acquaintances to sustain their habit and this would continue. All of these would drive these households into further debt, and the cycle would continue. Overall, there is a need to use this opportunity to improve the socio-economic conditions of these communities on a long-term basis and not just provide relief measures for immediate/short term ends. Both government and civil society organizations need to coordinate and combine their efforts towards this important goal.