LOCKDOWN, for most people, due to Covid 19 is a new phenomenon. But Kashmir had been under continual lockdown since August 5, 2019, which was imposed by government for maintaining law and order after abrogation of Article 370 in J&K region. Even otherwise the J&K region had experienced similar kind of curfews /lockdowns numerous times due to several factors such as political unrest, militancy etc. This intermittent lockdowns and curfews have adversely affected every aspects of life of common man. During such lockdowns/curfews the schools remained closed and with internet facilities suspended during such times the question of online education does not arises at all leading to poor quality of education as children do not possess age appropriate knowledge (education). Similarly with lack of transportation facilities supply of essentials such as food grains, vegetables, medicines and other essential commodities such as gas cylinders, fuel, etc always remained short of supply. Moreover the health services remains inaccessible during such periods and also during snowfalls as all the roads remains blocked leading to lockdown like situation.

But the worst ill effect such lockdown causes is on the employment and livelihood opportunities of the common man and especially on employees of private firms and daily wage laborers. With already inadequate wages coupled with lockdown they have to survive on whatever little savings and food stock they have in their homes, and the residents of valley had got used to such life since more than a decade.

However this time it was altogether different scenario, coz the first lockdown imposed after abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 lasted for nearly 7 months i.e till February 2020, and in March 2020 when the situation in valley was just returning to normalcy, another lockdown on account of Covid 19 was imposed by Government throughout the country, which again lasted for nearly 8 months i.e total 15 months of lockdown period!!!. The poor wage laborers, persons working in private firms, daily wage laborers, artisans and lower middle class families were the worst sufferers as they had spent whatever little savings they had on food during the lockdown period and had no means to receive support for essentials from anyone.

Human Welfare Foundation had since its inception apart from implementing several developmental projects in the field of Education, Health, Livelihood etc, have always been at the forefront in relief and rescue operations during emergencies of whatever nature – either natural disasters of otherwise. HWF services of providing relief and rehabilitation had been greatly acclaimed during the floods in 2014. HWF provides winter relief kits to poor families every year and also carries out food distribution to poor families every year during the pious month of Ramadan and Bakra Eid. HWF has in continuing its legacy of providing relief work, has carried out following relief and rehabilitation work from last 12 months i.e. from September 2019 to September 2020 viz.-