Emergency Food Bank for the Kalbelia Nomadic Colony During COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

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The Kalbelia are a non-pastoral nomadic group of people who live in the Thar Desert, N.W. India. During Lockdown, with absolutely no support from the stone mining company they work for and the streets where they normally perform empty, this colony have run out of food. Despite their magnificent culture this is a vulnerable group of people who are now facing a seriously threatening situation.

My contact in the colony is a woman called Suwa Devi Kalbelia (main picture), a dancer who starred in 'Latcho Drom' (1993) — a beautiful film that travels along the historic Roma trail from Rajasthan to Europe. Having carved a more stable future for herself than the rest of her colony, she is able to help the community with energy and time, though not with funds of her own.

We have spoken almost every day during the lockdown and I can vouch that she is a great person with an honest and serious desire to protect her community from danger. She has proven herself to me and spent all the money I have transferred - over £600 - on feeding her village (as well as the local cows who are neglected and dying as those who normally look after them are at home in the city, not passing through the area like normal).

We can make a big difference for the Dola Bass Kalbelia Colony. My hopes are that we can come together and help them through this rough patch, and that should enough funds be raised that perhaps on the other side they may even find themselves in a better situation, having had some time away from the lethal dust that comes with limestone and sandstone work. My hopes are that this could be a stepping stone to a more sustainable future for the Dola Bass Kalbelia Colony.

£600 - £800 will keep the colony safe each week of the pandemic until they are self-sufficient (working on it!)

100% of funds go to food for the 45 families each of which contain 8 - 10 people.

In the event that there is an excess of funds, these will be invested into the future of the Dola Bass Kalbelia Colony, only following expert advise all along the way and working closely with the community.

On behalf of myself, Suwa & the whole Dola Bass Kalbelia Colony — THANK YOU!