The nation-wide lockdown, to break the chain of Corona virus, that started on March 23rd

2020 and lasted for three months had short and long term socio-economic implications

especially for the deprived section of India, causing reverse migration, hunger, starvation,

loss of livelihood and range of other sufferings. Persons and children with disabilities cut

across all social groups and are perhaps the most vulnerable ones. A large number of

persons and children with disabilities reside in the urban slums and resettlement colonies

of Delhi, and belong to migrant families engaged in unskilled work and are employed in

the unorganized sectors. These are the vulnerable population that is often left behind

during any humanitarian crisis. It is with these persons and children with disabilities

residing in the urban slums and resettlement colonies of Okhla, Tughlakabad, Govindpuri

etc. in Delhi that ASTHA has been working with for their rehabilitation since 27 years.

The present report brings forth the issues and challenges that persons and children with

disabilities have faced during the three phases of nation-wide lockdown in Delhi and the work

and learnings of ASTHA in this pandemic..It is for the first time in the history of independent

India, that the country has faced a humanitarian crisis of such unprecedented nature.Like other

organisations, ASTHA threw itself into the task of reaching out with a focus on children and

persons with disabilities and their families. The report highlights some of the learning and some

short and long terms measures that could be taken on a larger scale in the event of a crisis.