Community Spotlight Covid19 Response Sharada

Sharada is one of the many amazing individuals who has stepped up to support vulnerable communities on ground. Prior to COVID19 lockdown she was helping to manage the events at Museum of Goa, and had just secured admission for a Masters in Social Policy at LSE and Maastricht University. Throughout this lockdown she has seemed to have endless energy continuously working on ground to support communities in need, as well as use her passion to help ideate new programs that can help restore Goa’s water systems as well as help get people back to work. We sat down with her to learn more about how she got started with all of this.

What made you want to stand up and volunteer your time during this lockdown?

We were in touch with each of the women who worked with us at the Women@Work project. When one of them shared that they were running out of supplies, we decided to start sourcing groceries for her, then her neighbours and eventually one community after another.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you normally do for work when you aren’t doing this?

I run a project called the Women@Work that empowers underprivileged women through art livelihoods. We co-create products that reflect Goa’s culture and aim to reinvent goan handicrafts. This project is supported by the Museum of Goa Foundation.
I have worked with rural communities over the last six years in the area of digital education, skill development and livelihoods.

What have you been doing to support marginalized communities during this lockdown period?

I have provided ration/groceries to families. This involved identification, verification and distribution of groceries.
In addition, we have also started a project called Catch2O to revive water bodies in Goa.

What are some of the difficulties you have faced while trying to do this work?

While there were many challenges that came in the way of work, from operational, logistical to strategic ones, the most difficult of them all was to ensure that every household was documented. In addition, it was the lack of clarity or misinformation on guidelines given by the State on the implementation of relief measures. This resulted in minimum or no collaborations between the govt and citizen groups.

What has been the most rewarding part of this experience?

Well, a deeper insight into the lives of people, into the understanding of us as a society and most importantly an opportunity to question my commitment, accountability towards fellow humans.

What do you need support with? / How can people help you continue this work?

So far, I have collaborated/joined Nandita to seek support for groceries. As of now, there isn’t any support required.
As far as the Catch2O project, we need financial support.

What is one lesson you would take away from all this, or thing you would do differently if you were to start over now?

Collaborated from the start with existing organisations and individuals.

How many volunteers are you working with to do this work?

Around 12 and support from MSG, GHH, Red Cross, Don Bosco Foundation, Rotary Club and many more.

How many migrants/day laborers have you fed/supported thus far?

2100 +

What is the most common misconception you see people making about the work you are doing?

That ‘they’ do not need help and are bluffing.

How do you think the support needed by these communities will change overtime?

As of now, Travel Fares, Travel Food/Water, Jobs, Shelter (if unemployed in the long run).