Introduction: The unprecedented COVID 19 pandemic has devastated deteriorated lives of millions of families across the globe. Many of the children especially from the poorest of poor section of the society who lost either one or both of their parents suffered the most as they failed to access their basic needs such as food and education. In India, though the Government of many states as well as the Central Government announced emergency support for their economical rehabilitation, still many of the families due to various reasons remained deprived up from these supports.

Assessment: In Mudigubba and Bukkapatanam mandal/block of SriSathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, it was found that there are around 30 families who lost their main breadwinner and the children are being taken care of by their mothers. These mothers due to illiteracy did not have any document to access their entitlements from the Government. Further, most of these mothers after the death of their husband were inhumanly separated by their inlaws from the families. As a result they became extremely vulnerable to manage their day to day needs particularly to safeguard their children from hunger and death.

Response: Keeping in view of this situation STdH Foundation supported these families with food materials for a period of three months. The food materials consist of pulses and edible oil packets. Also these families provided handholding support to avail support of rice from the Government. The mothers were supported to apply for availing widow pension from the Government.

Conclusion: This timely support helped these mothers from worrying about the food for their children and provided time to search for alternative sources of livelihood for their other requirements.