Support the Kathputli Colony during COVID19

COVID19 is having a profound impact on a slum community in Delhi - people are struggling to access food and need urgent support.

History of The Kathputli Colony
The Kathputli Colony, a slum in West Delhi that is home to several generations of traditional folk artists. The families, which consist of acrobats, puppeteers, folk musicians, dancers, snake charmers, sculptors, magicians, painters and bioscope makers, among others, settled here from different parts of the country almost four decades ago. Kathputli is also home to many daily wage construction site workers, rickshaw pullers, domestic help, rag pickers from leprosy community who earn on a day to day basis.

In 2014, the tensions between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the residents of the colony were at an all-time high. The DDA partnered with the real estate company Raheja Developers, and forcibly removed residents from their homes to transit camps at Anand Parbat, as part of its ‘in-situ slum rehabilitation scheme’. The promise made to the residents was that once the colony was vacated, the construction of multi-storied buildings would begin, with modern flats set aside for them.  Today the colony remains in the transit camps of Anand Parbat.

The impact of COVID-19
The colony is home to approximately 2800 families (15,000 people) living in transit camps, out of which 700 families have been identified as particularly vulnerable and unable to meet even the most basic of everyday needs.

Now is the peak season for weddings and cultural performances when traditionally the artists made the bulk of their living, but due to COVID-19 all gatherings have now been cancelled. At the same time,  daily wage workers have also lost their jobs and their only source of income. The community is now in crisis, there is no money coming in, no support from the government,  and many cannot afford even basic food, water and medical supplies for their families.

Queues of people desperate for food

Funding needed
We are trying to raise £5,000 to feed the community over the next 2 months. 

1 Month basic rations:

For 1 Family /  For  the 700 of the most vulnerable families
Aata - 30 Kgs / 21000 Kgs.
Mustard Oil - 3 Kgs / 2100 Kgs.
Daal - 5 Kgs / Daal - 3500 Kgs.
Sugar - 3 Kgs / Sugar - 2100 Kgs.
Tea - 1 Kgs / Tea - 700 Kgs.
Salt - 2 Kgs / Salt - 1400 Kgs.
Masala - 250 gms / Masala - 175 kgs.
Dettol Soap - 5 pcs / Dettol Soap - 3500 pcs.
Biscuit - 1 kgs / Biscuit - 700 kgs.
Mask - 5 pcs / Mask - 3500 pcs.

Please support this community, however, you can.

About me

I am Ruth Daniel, the CEO of In Place of War, a global organisation working with creativity in places of conflict. I met Vijay Kumar from the colony a few years ago and have continued to support his incredible community.