Together Against a Pandemic’s Second Wave 

Crisis. Dire. Record-Breaking. Heartbreaking. These are a few of the words used to describe the current state of the pandemic in India. They all ring true.  But so does the word Heroic to describe so many actions by Indians—including those of Sambhali Trust staff as they respond to the ever-growing crisis.

In mid-April, India became the world’s epicenter for the pandemic. The state of Rajasthan is currently in a total lockdown. For the first time since the pandemic began, the rural areas Sambhali Trust serves have high rates of Covid-19, with half of the participants in Sambhali Trust’s program in Setrawa testing positive at a recent clinic co-sponsored by the Trust. For both urban and rural Indians, the lockdown means many people cannot work and therefore have no means to buy even basic necessities.

As it did in response to the initial lockdown, Sambhali Trust is working on multiple fronts to respond to the current crisis. 

The Trust is providing food, masks, medicine, registration for vaccines, and other emergency care to current and prior participants in Sambhali programs as well as others in need in both Jodhpur and the rural Thar Desert. Over 4000 people in 750+ families are receiving ongoing support through the Sambhali Food Bank.

Psychological counseling is available through the Sambhali hotline to anyone experiencing depression, anxiety, or other impacts of the Covid crisis. This is in addition to responding to calls about gender-based violence through the Nirbhaya Project. The Trust also continues a public outreach campaign to encourage people to wear masks and supplies free masks made by members of the Graduate Sewing Center.  

At the request of the local government, the Trust has provided medical, sanitation, and other emergency supplies for a rural hospital and for an isolation center in Jodhpur. Isolation centers house those who have very serious complications of Covid but who cannot find beds in overcrowded hospitals.

Here is a recent message from Govind Rathore, founder and director of Sambhali Trust: 

"At this point in time besides ration distribution, employment of women and managing the toll-free helpline number for psychological cases calling the Trust, Sambhali is tirelessly trying its best to strengthen our City's Administration.  

With your help we have provided face masks to the local public and at a help desk in Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, non-stop participating in the intervene and stop Covid campaign, provided Medical equipment for Setrawa Hospital (rural) and medical relief at Boranada Covid quarantine center in Jodhpur, partnered in a Covid test camp in Setrawa village, organising empty boxes for food distribution by Municipal Board, and provided oximeters to the District Collector Saheb.  

We will not stop here because these are testing times for all of us."  

 This video from Sambhali Trust staff gives you a glimpse into the portion of the efforts focused on food and mask distribution.  

In April 2021, the Sambhali U.S. Board approved an emergency grant to support the Covid initiatives described above. Thanks to the generosity of over 100 donors, we were able to triple our initial emergency grant of $5,000 to $15,000, every dollar of which will reach those in great need in India. 

We ask anyone who is able to help to make a donation here.