Dear friend,

Adhikaar closed our physical space on Sunday, March 14 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The week before that we closed Sunday community days and stopped all group programs. Our staff will be working remotely to ensure the well-being, health and safety of our community and staff. 

As a community, this is the moment to be present for one another and collectively work together to protect the community members we know and ones we don’t know. Adhikaar has taken its work online and on the phone to ensure people are filling out the Census, checking in with our members, strategizing to support workers based on their needs, and ensuring people have access to information on COVD-19 and their rights.

Our phone lines will remain open for inquiries and general community support. If you know anyone in need of support, here are the following resources:

• If you are in New York and need support, including COVID-19 testing, here is the state hotline at 1-888-364-3065. You can also check their website. We are advocating for this line to have Nepali and Tibetan language access. 
• If you need information in Nepali language, call us directly at 718-937-1117 or email at [email protected]. 
• See our Facebook page here where we posted Nepali language information from the CDC and from the NYC government. The city has also published resources in 20+ languages here (including Nepali). 

Working-class Nepali-speaking folks do not have the privilege to work remotely or to take paid time off or extended sick leave. A caregiver must continue to take care of the elderly couple they are responsible for. A nails salon technician loses the tips they depend on to pay for child care for their two kids. We also see immigrant small business-owners struggling in this time of need, like women entrepreneurs, worker-turned-owners, who are finding it nearly impossible to keep their shops open. 

We know that in times of crisis, our communities are the most impacted. We echo the demands of the New York Immigration Coalition and partners to ensure that working immigrants and working families and individuals are protected during this outbreak. Take action to demand that all levels of government take action to protect all of our communities. 

In the following weeks, we will release more community-accessible resources and a plan of action for how Adhikaar and you can support the community during this moment of crisis.

In community,






Pabitra