OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH: SEWA, a leading NGO, in collaboration with Mercy Corps India, has been providing relief materials to the stranded migrant workers in Dibrugarh district who belong to other States and had come to Assam in search of livelihood. On receiving an appeal from Jharkhand State Government to extend necessary help to the stranded migrant workers of their State in Assam, SEWA, in collaboration with Mercy Corps India, provided relief materials, including food items and hygiene materials, and also gave psychosocial counselling to the stranded workers.
In a joint initiative, SEWA and Mercy Corps India have been distributing relief materials to the stranded migrant workers at various locations like Tengakhat, Ghoramora, Chabua, Lahowal and Dibrguarh urban in the district. As the nationwide lockdown to limit the outbreak of COVID-19 has been extended until May 17, the stranded migrant workers continue to bear the trauma. SEWA observed that migrants were experiencing acute distress associated with both hunger and homesickness. To cope with the migrant workers' crisis, SEWA further plans to initiate more relief works in collaboration with Mercy Corps India. In the relief drive, a total of 56 stranded migrant workers from Jharkhand and West Bengal were benefited.
Apart from these initiatives under the SEWA COVID-19 Response programme, SEWA, in collaboration with Save the Children, is also provides free masks for children and tea workers, extends psychosocial counselling and provides technical support to the small tea growers to cope with the crisis arises due to the lockdown.