The COVID-19 pandemic has led to health, economic, and social crises on a scale in the country unseen in the past century. The pandemic put to test the collective resilience of the entire nation. It is a scenario where solutions are unlikely to be found if everyone works in their respective silos. The battle against COVID-19 demands all available resources’ hands on the deck.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are involved and have decades of experience in public health, immunization, social protection, livelihood programs, and social accountability. The Government of India, during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, called upon all CSOs to help the government in combating COVID-19 by providing basic necessities to the underprivileged, by supplying medical and protective gear and assisting with awareness campaigns on social distancing. NITI Aayog reached out to more than 92,000 CSOs spread across the country seeking assistance in delivering relief services to the underprivileged, who were worst affected by the outbreak.

Voluntary Action Network India (VANI) in its 2021 report titled, ‘Study Report on National Policy on Voluntary Sector’ states, “In a country like India, the voluntary sector bridges the gap between the government and the population of the country. It identifies the needs of the community and provides support and services, even in the most untouched and marginalized areas, where the government is not able to reach.”

Migrant workers during the first country-wide lockdown faced multiple hardships. With factories and workplaces shut down due to limited economic activity, millions of migrant workers had to deal with the loss of income, food shortages and uncertainty about the future. Heart-wrenching visuals of these migrant workers walking thousands of kilometres in the summer heat back to their native homes can be easily earmarked as the worst humanitarian crisis in India’s modern history. During this time, the CSOs came forward to help the migrant workers and extended help by providing food, water and transportation. 

Spherule Foundation, in partnership with Fiinovation, undertook a COVID-19 awareness and relief project in Pune, Maharashtra that focused on distributing dry ration kits to the underprivileged communities. Spherule Foundation reached out to 1500 marginalised households in Wagholi, Alandi and a few localities of Pune Municipal Corporation and distributed dry ration kits and essential supplies. Along with the distribution of ration kits, awareness sessions about COVID-19 hygiene protocols were also organized focused on best practices related to public health and hygiene, sanitization, and use of face masks etc. 

Recognizing the contribution of CSOs in providing relief to the underprivileged and migrant labourers during the first lockdown, the honourable Supreme Court of India, appreciated them for their efforts and praised them for exhibiting passion and devotion for helping the destitute. 

There’s no doubt that CSOs across the nation played a crucial role in providing relief to the people who needed it the most. It is nearly impossible to list them all, however, the government of India has recognized the efforts of some of them, such as Cry, Akshaya Patra Foundation, Rama Krishna Mission, Tata Trusts, Piramal Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Action Aid, International Red Cross Society, Prayas, Help-age India, SEWA, Sulabh International, Charities Aid Foundation of India, Gaudia Math, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. 

While covid relief during the first wave revolved around preventive measures, treatment, raising awareness, providing free nutritious meals etc, the second wave saw CSOs addressing the shortages in oxygen supply, providing medicines and arranging ICU beds and blood for those in need. 

Hemkunt Foundation, a CSO in Gurgaon, organized multiple ‘oxygen langars’ where medical oxygen was provided to the COVID-19 patients for free of cost. These langars were conducted in open spaces with chairs mounted with oxygen concentrators. CSOs across the country came forward with similar initiatives and activities. Covid Care Network in Kolkata along with the support of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, converted the Uttirna Stadium into a 100-bed isolation facility in just three days for patients who didn’t have access to safe space of isolation. 

The grit and resilience demonstrated by the CSOs is unparalleled as they completely immersed themselves in responding to COVID-19 and the humanitarian crisis it unleashed across the country. Unlike localised responses during disaster relief, the COVID-19 pandemic demanded mobilisation at a massive scale and the CSOs were able to rise to the occasion successfully. 

By working constructively with government authorities, particularly at the local government levels, CSOs were able to improve response and relief implementation through effective community engagement, and cascade behavioural changes in the at-risk population groups. CSOs have increased access to essential services — scaling up to serve larger populations and wider geographies. This ability to achieve impact at scale while maintaining exemplary ground operations has enabled CSOs to reach millions of people, including those often left behind in standardised relief efforts.