Understanding and Reducing the Impact of COVID-19 in Rural India

In partnership with the state of Chhattisgarh, India the research team developed an interactive voice response system called Mor Awaaz (“My Voice” in the local language of Chhattisgarh) which has been delivering personalized health information to over 10,000 rural women since 2019. The project will now leverage this platform to raise awareness about COVID-19: symptoms, diffusion, strategies to prevent it and provide households with information on how to comply with the current government-mandated lockdown and government assistance. The team will simultaneously collect information about local market conditions—particularly on food prices and shortages—to inform state officials on the efficacy of the Public Distribution System, which provides subsidized food to families in rural areas. Findings and insights will be rapidly summarized and communicated with the government to inform their response to the COVID-19 crisis.