The Tourism Industry in the region incurred a massive loss due to the corona virus outbreak. Data provided by the Union Home Ministry shows the revenue generation in the tourism sector (including airfare) in the Andaman Region is nearly Rs 100 crores every year. Women participate in the tourism economy as vendors, artisans, and are part of the tourism supply chain, However, the nature of this work is highly precarious and completely dependent on the volume of tourist footfall. The impact of the pandemic and the subsequent lock down has been unprecedented, leaving women workers in a grave situation. Don Bosco Relief Services reached out to such 188 women headed families from 6 villages near Ferrargunj, Andaman.
Transgender persons (The term transgender is an umbrella term which includes binary trans men and women, non-binary people, genderqueer persons and gender non-conforming persons), most of whom are daily-wage earners feel just as stranded and helpless as migrant workers who are walking back home. The lock down has made it impossible for them to continue their daily work of Basti Badhai* ( *Basti Badhai is a traditional source of livelihood among transgender and intersex community, wherein they give their blessings for any celebrations among families, such as births, marriages etc) and left those who relied on begging in a worse situation.
The rapid spread of the corona virus has wreaked havoc on businesses in India and crippled normal life. Social distancing is not just for the sick, but for each and every person. The densely populated areas, in particular, are more vulnerable. The lock down has a devastating impact on the slum dwellers. Daily wage - earners like manual labourers, scrap collectors, rickshaw pullers, auto rickshaw drivers, women domestic workers etc. This phase of uncertainty is over food and income in the city left this daily wage sector jobless. Rs. 1000 provided by the government would be suffice? Don Bosco Relief Services reached these most affected communities through various interventions.
And will continue to do so! Help us Help Them!