Shramik Bharti

Shramik Bharti took an unconventional approach to COVID emergency relief–they started community grain banks. This simple, yet effective solution is one that local people can easily manage and sustain, borrowing grains to feed their families when they are hungry and repaying them when they harvest their crops.

With funds from IDS, Shramik Bharati enlisted 51 small and marginal farmers to initially contribute 2 kg of wheat to set up a community grain bank. Shramik Bharati provided an additional 400 kg of wheat and storage bins with 5 quintals of capacity. Members can borrow grain for her/his family when needed, and then at the time of harvest, return the borrowed grains back to the bank with an additional 25% for community storage. Today Shramik Bharti runs more than 200 community banks that ensure food security for more than 6,000 small and marginal farming families and agriculture laborers in 6 districts of Uttar Pradesh, assisting more than 30,000 people.