“Due to the lockdown we have not been able to sell any of our products and with the Cyclone, our sheds have been destroyed,” says Kunda Patekar of Bharari Mahila Gandhulkhat Prakalp from Dehna. This is the scenario across 15 of our 55 villages where Population First’s AMCHI team has initiated the vermi-products livelihood programmes for rural women since 2011. The nationwide lockdown due to the COVID pandemic has led to tremendous economic decline around the country especially in the rural areas. But what is often forgotten is that it affects women entrepreneurs even more starkly—a lived reality for our 105 businesswomen who have not been able to sell any of their products (vermi-compost and vermi-wash) since March of this year. In addition, the June 3rd Cyclone Nisarga only further exacerbated their situation with the cyclone ripping up and blowing away their sheds. Selling these products has become a difficult task which is especially crucial for our businesswomen’s financial independence, as for some it is their only source of personal income. The current economic losses suffered has made it extremely difficult to spend on the raw materials required for rebuilding the shed. While Population First is helping them re-open and rebuild their enterprise we also seek your help in raising INR 1,80,000/- for 15 vermi-compost business groups and assist in their efforts to rebuild their sheds. You can access the gallery for more information.