Nature, Care & Economic Prosperity for All.

Distribution of Medical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Since the beginning of the pandemic, demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, has soared to unprecedented levels. The United Nations has forecasted the demand for surgical masks and alarmed the Nations to be alert on gross root levels.  

 

Youth Empowerment Services (Research and Rehabilitation) Trust of Kashmir, has been working closely with other Institutions, organizations, local Panchayats and other institutional Bodies to forecast demand, procure masks at free of cost  and required quality and ensure a fair distribution, particularly to low- and middle-income areas of the District Anantnag Particularly. Since the start of the outbreak,

  Youth Empowerment Services (Research and Rehabilitation) Trust of Kashmir has distributed 40000 surgical masks and approximately 15000 respirators, and reached to every RED and Green Zones declared by the District administration.

Working with a diversified supplier base around the country and following a strict tender-based process that guarantees national standards are met; the Trust procures the quality-assured medical masks listed below.

 Respirators:

 

Respirators are masks used to reduce exposure to hazardous airborne particles, including dust particles and infectious agents, as well as gases and vapours. In the context of COVID-19, respirators are reserved for use by health workers performing aerosol-generating procedures or providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

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Surgical masks:

Surgical masks are medical masks that are recommended for the use of health workers.  

Surgical masks are loosely fitted. They create a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Based on their filtration efficacy, surgical masks are classified into three different levels: Type I, II, IIR.

Youth Empowerment Services (Research and Rehabilitation) Trust of Kashmir ensures it only purchases PPE that meets all required standards.

 

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2020-2021

 

Covid-19 Mission Continues....

In March 2020, Youth Empowerment Services (Research and Rehabilitation) Trust of Kashmir, distributed more 28000 medical masks which were required and delivered on war foot basis mostly in the markets, near Mosques and Pious places (Ziyarats).  It is also projected that the more stock will be sought and distribute till the situation of Covid-19 not reduces in the District. The use of these disposable face masks by people with particular allergies is expected to be a key factor driving the market. Respiratory masks are available in various shapes and sizes that make them suitable for every individual. These products do not merely protect the users from dust but also from minute floating air particles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is constantly emphasizing, especially medical personnel to use disposable face masks since they are invariably exposed to viruses, bacteria, and other sorts of pathogens.

Furthermore, the use of this product as a surgical mask to protect one from the viruses and other pathogens that can cause infections is projected to upscale the demand for disposable face masks in the near future. The main purpose of these masks is to avoid one from getting in contact with airborne germs, dusts, and other infection-carrying pathogens. The rise in cases of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs), the growing elderly population, and the development of healthcare facilities in emerging economies are fueling the market growth. Though these masks are designed to offer protection, it is recommended to select one which won’t cause any allergies.

Furthermore, the use of this product as a surgical mask to protect one from the viruses and other pathogens that can cause infections is projected to upscale the demand for disposable face masks in the near future. The main purpose of these masks is to avoid one from getting in contact with airborne germs, dusts, and other infection-carrying pathogens. The rise in cases of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs), the growing elderly population, and the development of healthcare facilities in emerging economies are fueling the market growth. Though these masks are designed to offer protection, it is recommended to select one which won’t cause any allergies.

Being understanding and respectful of others' feelings, time constraints, and conflicting priorities because of the Covid-19 pandemic will have been so important in maintaining strong relationships and supporting team members remotely.

The economic chaos due to the pandemic threatened economic access and physical availability of food. Disruptions and possible problems in marketing, logistics, and trade systems were restricted access to food in most of the places and times; therefore, hunger and malnutrition problems appeared. So for the time being a positive imitative were taken by the Trust management and distribute surgical as well as respiratory masks to vegetable and fruit sellers in different marketing places of District Anantnag. 

As we know the Skill development programmes in India had to rethink their models to tackle the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some ongoing programmes of Skill Development which are currently in progress too were affected during the pandemic of covid-19. The class work was suspended and most skill development programmes in our Training centers follow a classroom-led delivery model. Because of this, many faced huge infrastructure and human resource-related challenges while moving their operating models online overnight. On the one hand, participants from low-income families didn’t have access to digital infrastructure. On the other, trainers were not equipped enough to deliver virtual training, particularly while doing so from home.

Distribution of Hand Sanitizers

Amid lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, Trust Management has taken a major step to distribute hand sanitizers among the people in rural areas where the general masses in particular could not effort to buy.

 The corona-virus or Covid-19 is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the current virus is a novel strain not seen before. Common symptoms of the novel corona-virus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the WHO. The WHO has declared the corona-virus epidemic as a global health emergency.  

To give the awareness among the public and give the free of face mask and hand wash Sanitizer were also distributed free of cost. We distribute 2000 hand wash sanitizers among the rural people and 200 high and Higher Secondary school students. One sanitizer per family was distributed and each face mask for each one.

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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2021-2022

Funding ran dry

The funding sources for all self sponsored as well as government-sponsored programmes were largely unavailable during September2020-October 2021, when the lockdown was extended. This created a lot of stress on small skill development organizations and as a result, we were forced to downsize our self sponsored project staff. Many of the self started skill Development programmes only go on including virtual delivery and extending digital infrastructure support during this time. This is so we can ensure that the impact of the lockdown on skilling programmes is minimized.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a surge in self-learning apps and virtually delivered programmes. But maintaining the same quality of training with a digital delivery model is a challenge. There are logistical issues, and then there are issues with the trainers’ approach to engaging students digitally and of course the commitment of participants to learn online.

Skilling programmes already face issues with the delivery of training and achieving the desired learning outcomes. Moving those same solutions online may in fact worsen learning outcomes. Additionally, we saw that during the lockdown, the impact of the training course varied based on the nature of the course that was delivered online. It is easy to delivery theoretical concepts online, but practical sessions still require classroom support. So, ‘foundational’ courses might see better outcomes than those that teach ‘technical’ skills online. Based on our virtual programme learning, we think there is a huge opportunity to create quality digital training solutions for this segment of youth, with a trainer-assisted programme that can be delivered in a local language.

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What we did, and what we learnt

We changed our outreach strategy while on-boarding students for virtual classes by clearly explaining to them how a virtual class will be delivered, through videos. We also encouraged students and their parents to arrange for smart phones at least on a temporary basis. We made training available at a discounted fee, which enabled them to buy required data packs to avail of the virtual training.

Investing in a ToT course was very helpful. We trained our trainers to deliver virtual training effectively; we developed short videos on core modules in vernacular languages; we delivered training virtually through Zoom in the first half of the day, and utilized the second half to keep students engaged through WhatsApp. We also used our learning management system to administer assessments and share videos of core modules that students used for self-learning. Additionally, we held online meetings with parents and conducted extra sessions every Friday, which also contributed to achieving good learning outcomes.

 

Ongoing Project Proposal

   A proposal is invited from the Village Level Entrepreneurs/Village Panchayat/Youth Clubs/SHGs for the distribution of LED BULBs under the Slogan of “Energy saved is Energy generated” programme. The distribution of LED Bulbs (9watt) is purely on subsidy based as per the following norms:

Each family is to be given five (05) number of Bulbs worth of Rupees 100/- only. 

Each family is required to produce a Ration card number (12-digit epds) for taking the benefit. All the Village Level Entrepreneurs/Village Panchayat/Youth Clubs/SHGs are bound to maintain the records manually/electronically of each family (name of the Family Head is to be recorded).

 Interested Village Level Entrepreneurs/Village Panchayat/Youth Clubs/SHGs are required to submit an online Form and also to get in touch with our Authorized Representative/Project Manager.

Village Level Entrepreneurs/Village Panchayat/Youth Clubs/SHGs will make an order along with the payment in advance as per the Rs. 20/- per bulb.  

       Energy saved is energy generated. We cannot keep on producing non-renewable resources like petrol, diesel and electricity. So the need of the hour is the better utilization of existing resources. Energy depletion has become a global phenomenon at present time. The world's store of fossil oil is gradually exhausted by population explosion and the use of energy in an uncontrolled manner. Simple things like switching off fans and lights when not in use, using maximum daylight, walking instead of driving for short distances, using CFL instead of traditional bulbs, proper insulation for leakage of energy can go a long way in saving energy. We cannot produce energy of our own instead we can save non renewable resources. Energy depletion has become a global phenomenon at the present time. The biggest problem that the man is going to face in the near future is the energy crises.

The demand in the energy is growing and many folds in the form of coal, oil or gas but the energy sources are becoming scarce and costlier.

Now a days people are fully dependent on conventional source of energy.

The only step we can take is that we should move on to non convention source of energy and the use of conventional source of energy must be reduced. As the GOI has recently took a step to distribute LED Bulbs on subsidy basis which has been successfully completed as well. The need was more but the supply was a little bit less, so as to our NGO Management took an initiative to distribute the same LEDs on the behalf of its own in the areas where people really are deserving. Till date our Trusteeship has distributed 30,000 LED Bulbs so far and the process is still on. Some of the beneficiaries’ data has been recorded in both hard copies and soft copies.