India – Henry Martyn Institute Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Methodist family is responding to the pandemic through the Emergency Coronavirus appeal and the World Mission Fund.

All We Can and the Methodist Church in Britain (MCB) will be supporting the work of the Henry Martyn Institute, an MCB partner organisation, with money raised through the joint Emergency Coronavirus Appeal. Thank you for giving generously to this appeal. To find out more about All We Can’s and the Methodist Church response to Covid-19 in India, visit https://www.allwecan.org.uk/indias-coronavirus-crisis-urgent-support-needed/

The Methodist Church is also responding with grants from the World Mission Fund to support the Henry Martyn Institute in India. You can find out more about how the World Mission Fund was used to support Covid-19 work in 2019-2020 here and the current news on Covid-19 support in 2020-21 here . You can give to the World Mission Fund here.

The Henry Martyn Institute (HMI) aims at building interfaith relations, dialogue and reconciliation across all the sections and religious groups of the society. Peacebuilding, Community Development and Women Empowerment are some of the core focus areas of HMI.

With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, its impact has adversely affected people across the world. Issues related to livelihood, health security, economic security, increased poverty, migration, child care, and domestic violence have been major challenges.

In the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has been severe, especially in the old city of Hyderabad. There was a surge in the number of incidents of Gender Based Violence in India during the Covid-19 lockdown period from March to the end of June 2020. Starvation and financial distress among persons was one of the major challenges. The lack of availability of daily work meant that migrant workers were constantly moving and the concern for children on the move was severely increased. Lack of food security, health care provisions and increased mental trauma were among the other significant concerns.

The second wave of the pandemic from March 2021 onwards is spreading and affecting many. The health conditions for many are very poor. The need for supply of oxygen is of priority and its access is limited.

HMI Covid-19 work will be supported from the World Mission Fund (£7500), this will be supplemented with funding for work via the Emergency Coronavirus Appeal.

HMI’s Aman Shanti Community Development Centres are located in the five community areas of Sultan Shahi, Shanker Nagar, Chandrayangutta, Hashamabad and Indira Nagar in the old city of Hyderabad. The beneficiaries of this work shall be those in poverty identified from the HMI’s five community centre areas. The beneficiaries shall be from Hindu, Muslim and Dalit communities.

Activities supported by the World Mission Fund grant.

Mask Campaign

Free distribution of masks and health kits which include hand sanitizers and soaps to marginalised community members who cannot afford to purchase them due to extreme poverty and sickness.

Vaccination Programme

To help provide vaccines to identified community members who are below poverty line from HMI’s five Aman Community Centres areas.

Awareness Programmes

Organising awareness programmes in the five targeted communities to sensitize the community members on the need for prevention, care and various precautions such as vaccination, proper diet and regular medication to be taken during the pandemic crisis

Nutrition Distribution Programme

From the middle of April to the middle of May most of the Muslim families practice fasting. It is proposed to provide a food kit as part of Zakat (Charity) to the 300 most marginalised community members who cannot afford to purchase the basic food provisions. Each food kit consists of Rice, Wheat, Sugar, Oil, Pulses, Tamarind and other basic cooking material. This would provide substantial nutrition to the community members.

Financial support to Covid-19 affected families

Persons affected with Covid-19 practice home isolation and the entire family remains in isolation for a period of 15 days. During this period most of the marginalised community members cannot afford to have a nutritious food and procure medicines, etc. HMI intends to provide financial support to persons from the five community areas and assist them in speedy recovery.

Please continue to keep the work of the Henry Martyn Institute in your prayers .