Through its partner Bosco Reach Out, Don Bosco Network was able to reach out to 250 impoverished agricultural households in Nadaur block, Tezpur district, Assam with input support for paddy and vegetable cultivation.

The imposition of an abrupt nation-wide lockdown in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic forced hundreds of hungry, exhausted interstate migrant workers working in metropolitan cities to return to their villages with no prospects of livelihood.

Tezpur, Assam saw a similar reverse migration. Due to arbitrary movement restrictions imposed by the state government, the rural and tribal households in this region were unable to sell their produce. Additionally, they did not have enough savings to restart agriculture activities, worsening their precarious financial conditions. This is where Don Bosco Network and its partners stepped in.

In preparation for the Kharif crop, they supported 250 farmers with 40 kgs of paddy seeds each for starting paddy cultivation on their lands. Additionally, Bosco Reach Out conducted awareness programmes for the farmers about hygiene and health practices essential to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The farmers learned about Covid-19 symptoms, and the modes of transmission. They were encouraged to understand and abide by the precautionary guidelines issued by state and central governments.

Don Bosco Network thanks its funding partner Jugend Eine Welt for its generous support towards helping people in distress in Assam.