Mumbai, April 16, 2020: The worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the underprivileged sections of the society. While migrant and daily wage earners are struggling to earn their daily bread; migrant labourers have lost their livelihood. In these testing times, philanthropic organisations like Edelgive Foundation have stepped up their efforts to tackle the challenges posed by COVID-19 and help the underprivileged.
Several companies from across sectors are also contributing to the government and citizens to improve their conditions. While some companies are helping in manufacturing masks, sanitisers and other personal protective equipment (PPE), others are offering support through monetary commitments towards the PM’s COVID-19 relief fund.
The Edelweiss Group has made a humble contribution of INR 2 Crore to PM-CARES Fund and INR 50 Lakhs to the CMO Maharashtra for Corona relief. This contribution by the Edelweiss Group is over and above their annual mandatory CSR spend.
In addition to this, EdelGive Foundation has committed INR 10 Crore in Q1 to NGOs working with vulnerable communities. EdelGive is also proactively reaching out to the philanthropic ecosystem, connecting them to initiatives that aid poor, displaced and unemployed families. It has helped develop the Common Charter for the Indian Donor and Philanthropic Community as a founding member. This common platform for action on COVID-19 is developed jointly by Vidya Shah of EdelGive, Rohini Nilekani of Arghyam, Rishad Premji of Wipro, Amitabh Behar of Oxfam India and Ford Foundation.
Edelweiss employees have also extended their support for COVID-19 relief initiatives:
Edelites have collectively raised an amount of over INR 11 Lakhs for the NGO partners (as of today).
The contribution has been directed towards helping over 25,000 migrants and vulnerable families with cash transfers, food grains, and safety equipment.
The NGO partners who are committed to tackling the virus outbreak in India along with EdelGive Foundation are:
Jan Sahas: Connected more than 66,000 migrant families of Bundelkhand to their kin in the Delhi (NCR) migration corridor. Currently, they are relaying information through Majdoor Helpline Number –1800 2000 211 and generating data of people who need help or emergency support.
Samaritan Help Mission (SHM): SHM initiated a relief mission in the slums of Tikiapara in the Howrah District, West Bengal where daily wage workers and rickshaw pullers were also finding it difficult to manage two square meals a day. The NGO distributed food kits and direct cash transfers to the needy along with the young volunteers from Tikiapara.
SOVA: South Orissa Voluntary Action (SOVA) in reaching out to the remotest areas to deliver the preventive measures. The village volunteers are engaged in their respective villages for awareness generation, strengthening referral in coordination with the frontline workers and informing about the outsiders coming to the villages. The team is also planning to relay information to neighbouring villages through community radio. SOVA is conducting a vulnerability need assessment to be able to cater to the prime requirement of these families, which is food for their daily need; SOVA is providing dry food. Apart from this, for better hygiene, hand wash soap, antiseptics like Dettol, detergent, bleaching powder are also being provided.
CORO: They have partnered with D-Mart to supply ration, almost 15 kgs worth to 400 daily wage earners, who have been badly impacted by the slowdown in and around Mumbai.
Ajeevika (Shram Sarathi) is facilitating cash transactions for migrant workers at the destination sites across Udaipur, Rajasthan. They are also coordinating and communicating with the grocery shop owners to provide food and other essentials. Along with their sister organization, Aajeevika Bureau they are assisting migrant workers through a helpline number in their hour of need providing the much need information, support and assurance.