Covid-19

With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an urgent need for clear, accurate, and consistent communication in regional languages to build Covid-resilient communities. Communication needed to be clear, resonate emotionally and contextually with the target population, and take into account the barriers faced in implementing desired behavior. It should enable people to manage the pandemic from a health and economic perspective.

As the spread of Covid-19 increased in India, Swadhaar FinAccess, a section 8 company, transitioned to a work-from-home model on March 18^th, 2020, in the state of Maharashtra. From March 23^rd, 2020, the day after the national lockdown was announced, the work-from-home model was applied for the safety and security of all our employees in all other states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Jharkhand. This began with an online training program on Covid Awareness for our trainers, who then pivoted from providing financial literacy training in communities to disseminating Covid-19 related information.

Our trainers connected to our tele-calling center and started contacting clients from their homes. The conversations with clients yielded some useful findings that informed our subsequent work. These findings are published state-wise in the dashboards provided below for the period March 26^th to July 15^th, 2020.

Initiatives taken up during lockdown:

Spreading awareness and precautions on Covid-19 in 20 districts and 6 states

We produced 4 videos in 9 Regional languages each, to spread awareness and precautions about Covid-19. These have been disseminated with the support of Rotary in India and through our Swadhaar Saathi app.The viewership up to July 15^th 2020 was 32,321 views (click here for Covid-19 resources)

Our trainers are provided with comprehensive information on local help line numbers, State and Central Government schemes, NGOs / Individuals providing support so that our clients can be directed to them and avail the benefits

Providing assistance to clients to resolve banking and digital payment related issues, such as opening of or activating Jan-Dhan accounts, sending payments

Click here for State wise reports

Bihar

Gujarat

Jharkhand

Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra

Rajasthan

Insights from six states and 20,227 community members

20,227 clients reached through tele-calling
30% were aware about Covid-19
38% clients were provided with information on issues pertaining to Covid-19

COVID-19 Awareness

8% faced challenges in Hand washing/Social Distancing

Impact on Family Income

Income of over 17% of clients is highly impacted. This is because 67% are daily wage workers or self employed
Over 31% people said that they could manage their expenses for 15 days to 3 months
16% said they could manage their expenses by reducing their expenditure, 13% had saving and 12% said would borrow
21% could not specify how they would exactly manage

Concerns due to Covid-19

Bhojpati from Kota, Rajasthan has no income for a month - she had to close her grocery shop due to Covid-19 lockdown. However she is able to meet her household expenses and repay the loan installment from her saving. Bhojpati told our trainer that she had been saving regularly in the bank since she attended our financial education program.

Bhojpati is hopeful that she will soon open her shop.

Suman Devi from Karra, Jharkhand was anxious and worried for her husband who works in Goa as a daily wage worker. He lost his job due to Covid-19 lockdown and was left with no money. Suman had transferred money to his bank account which did not get credited. When our trainer called her and understood her problem, he immediately checked with the bank and learnt that her husband’s bank account was deactivated because of KYC updation. Once the couple understood the problem – they acted on it and the husband received the money.

Critical information and guidance helped the migrant to pull on in difficult times.

Dhirendra from Dinara, Bihar was in Delhi for work when lock down was announced. When the trainer called him, he was thrilled to receive the call and talk to someone. Till that time he was lonely and frustrated, and not sure what to do. He received information on Covid-19 from the trainer and also downloaded the Swadhaar Saathi app. He was glad to find information on Covid-19 and helpline numbers on the app. He is using the app diligently now.

Swadhaar Saathi app is become his companion.

Yasmin from Anand, Gujarat is our financial education participant. She had opened her bank account seven years ago with the help of trainer. Her habit of saving regularly in the bank account helped her to pull through the crisis. She and her husband both have lost their work after Covid-19 lock down. Yasmin now has got an order to stitch masks. She said that she gives masks free to people who cannot afford them. This is her way of contributing to society.