Update on Save the Children’s social protection project in Dungarpur supported by Valmet

Since the beginning of 2020, Valmet has supported Save the Children’s Child Sensitive Social Protection Project in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India, where Covid-19 has significantly disrupted children’s education. Schools and colleges have been closed for a long time now. The state’s health care system has been overwhelmed with handling the rising Covid-19 cases due to shortage of essential medical infrastructure and supplies, including vaccines, oxygen and lifesaving medicines.

Unlike the first wave in Rajasthan, the virus variant has spread across all age groups and areas. It is predicted that the third wave is going to hit the children hard this year, as most of them have not received vaccinations yet. The authorities have made efforts to provide vaccines to Rajasthan’s entire adult population. However, less than 5 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated, thus making almost everyone vulnerable to Covid-19.​​​​​​​

"The situation in India has hit everyone hard, but children are affected the most and have been exposed to vulnerabilities in many different ways as they have lost the possibility for education and many have been engaged in child labour. Even in this crisis with restrictions we never sit still," says Neema Pant, Save the Children´s Project Manager at the Dungarpur Child Sensitive Social Protection project.

At the moment, the situation seems to be getting better in Rajasthan and parts of the country are opening up again. During the lockdown Save the Children has provided learning kits for children and helped them with self-studies with reading buddies, for example. The project team has been in regular touch with children during the lockdown and families have been linked to relevant social protection schemes. Vaccination programs for adults are also supported.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“Our committed team in India is working hard to help children and their families to get through this crisis. Our work to help families for example linking them to government social protection schemes is more important than ever as families are really struggling to meet their daily needs and as a result many children are falling into child labour," says Katja Selkimäki-Gray, Portfolio Manager at Save the Children Finland.

As the situation is improving, Save the Children’s team has been able to restart activities and meet with children again. Preparations are being made as children get ready to return to school. The project team is in constant discussion with schools to understand the support required to open them to children again. Sanitation materials are provided to schools and information is communicated to children. Save the Children´s Dungarpur team is ready to continue the project with the same drive as before.