The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent nationwide lockdown have disrupted the lives of many, especially the local communities and daily wage earners. To protect these communities and support those fighting in the frontlines, ACC has stepped in through its ACC TRUST to reach out to over half a million people and contribute in four thematic areas:
Awareness Campaigns
Most of ACC’s manufacturing units are located in rural areas and the teams are taking the lead to educate neighboring communities and villages through tele-calling, mobile vans with loud-speakers, posters, etc. on the immediate need for social distancing, the importance of personal sanitation and respiratory hygiene. For instance, at Khushberiya and Simatand villages in Sindri, Jharkhand, ACC volunteers are walking through the villages with microphones to educate and create awareness on COVID-19 among villagers. So far ~ 93 villages in 11 states have been covered and over 15,000 tele-counseling sessions conducted and the volunteers are reaching out to many more.
Disinfection Drives
ACC has modified tankers and other vehicles to help spray disinfectant across village areas to sanitize them. ACC has undertaken a huge number of disinfection drives across many villages including Wadi (Karnataka), Ghugus (Maharashtra), Barmana (Himachal), Madukkarai (TamilNadu) and many others, covering over 3,75,000 people living in those areas.
Mask Production & Distribution
Over the years, ACC’s alternative livelihood centers (DISHA) have trained thousands of women in local communities in vocational skills such as industrial tailoring and encouraged them to form Self-Help Groups (SHGs). ACC has now engaged its associate Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the country to manufacture and distribute three-layered face masks for local municipalities, sanitation workers, vegetable vendors and those who are providing essential services. They have produced more than 66,000 masks, of which 42,000 have already been distributed amongst frontline workers.
Distribution of food provisions
Due to the disruption of supply chains as a result of the lockdown, it has been very difficult for migrant laborers and communities to secure essential commodities. To ensure that no one goes hungry, ACC TRUST volunteers have distributed more than 10,000 packets of provisions and food to migrant laborers and the disadvantaged.
Video links:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1H2IbWcwcC_X7sF20JoU1MM3Kq9xe3rCI (Disinfection drive)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1llDaR6GvNN39XHGQGAF4jmYAkV4TWzeC (Awareness campaign)
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