When the world turned outside inINTERVENTION AT TIMES OF COVID-19

About Prayas

• Prayas is a response to offer legal andrehabilitation services to persons from resourcepoor communities, who get processed within thecriminal justice system, or those at the margins ofcrime, victimization or destitution.

• Prayas started in 1990 as a project of Tata Instituteof Social Sciences, Mumbai. Prayas has used acomprehensive approach combining legal services,counselling, networking, training, research &documentation, and policy change.

• Prayas has impacted the lives of over 40,000people who were criminalized or on the brink of it.

Reaching out the persons in need of immediate relief

Services Provided by Prayas

Direct Cash Transfers

Distribution of Ration Kits

Distribution of Packaged Meals

Coordination with State Authorities

Networking and Fund Raising

Distribution of toiletries and handkerchiefs inside prisons

Services Provided by Prayas

Arrangement of Temporary Shelters

Outreach work with BPL women not connected with Ujjwala Scheme.

Escorting released prisoners to their home from Jail

Distribution Digital Thermal Thermometers

Emotional support via telephone

Some of the challenges faced

•Personal safety versus the immediate needs of the clients.

•The clients, being processed through the criminal justice system already

encounter a degree of stigma. It makes getting help for them even more

difficult.

•Lack of documents to avail existing schemes and benefits

•Lack of support from various groups

Some of the challenges faced continued…

• Initially due to public safety protocols, being out was an issue as police was

not aware of our intervention.

•Lack of vehicles and public transport being shut.

•As some of the client groups do not have permanent shelters, reaching out to

them or arranging shelter is a challenge.

• Some of the clients do not have bank accounts, it made direct transfers

impossible for such clients.

•Lack of availability of food and water for the team.

Few numbers at a glance

Ration support provided across Maharashtra

and Gujarat

398

Ration support provided across Maharashtra 246

Ration support provided across Gujarat 152

Provided Packed food across Mumbai ,

Maharashtra

440

Provided ration kits to Inmates getting released

on Parole and interim bail, Bharuch district ,

Gujarat

51

Provided toiletries and hanker chief to inmates

of Bharuch district prison

500 sets

Financial Support to the families 377

Cash Transfer to bank accounts of clients or to

the account of trusted friend or relative across

Maharashtra and Gujarat

6,00,000

Due to the COVID 19

lockdown, Prayas’ clients and

their families are in crisis in

terms of food shortage and

livelihood. Prayas has been able

to reach out to more than 400

families and provided them

with cash transfers and ration

distribution in Maharashtra and

Gujarat.

Acknowledgements

Our sincere thanks to:

◦ Law Enforcement Agencies (Police and Court)

◦ Prison Department

◦ Legal Service Authorities (Maharashtra and Gujarat)

◦ Home Guards and Civil Defense, Maharashtra

◦ Prayas partners – Tata Motors, APPI and Maharashtra

Foundation, who are currently supporting our ongoing

programs.

◦ YUVA (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action),

Citizens for Justice and Peace, Round Table India for

the support of basic ration kits

◦ Garima Foundation for packed lunches

◦ Individual donors

Donations and support fromgovernmental and non-governmental agencies hasmade a valuable difference inhelping the families ofprisoners, children in conflictwith law and women rescuedfrom commercial sexualexploitation during this crisisamid COVID 19 lockdown.

For more information:

WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.TISS.EDU/VIEW/11/PROJECTS/PRAYAS/

Social media :

▪ https://www.facebook.com/Prayas-Social-Work-in-Criminal-Justice-105221437740765/

▪https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1NnvS9v8QM&feature=youtube

EMAIL : PRAYAS.RND@GMAIL.COM ; PRAYAS@TISS.EDU

Also refer :

▪ https://www.nexusofgood.org.in/stories/faith-in-humanity-restored?fbclid=IwAR1BigviD4gkKfCRcP76GFWHUodNcqLiTXBDaNeJWFDuKo6MH7Fu-CyW9lI

▪ https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mumbai-out-on-bail-undertrial-prisoners-have-no-means-to-reach-home-6347771/

▪ https://scroll.in/article/958334/indias-jails-are-vastly-overcrowded-here-are-some-ways-to-protect-inmates-from-covid-19

Please continue to support the cause and help us reach out to more :

H T T P S : / / T I S S . E D U / P R AYA S _ D O N AT E /