A Drop In The Ocean

The entire world is in the grip of the deadly virus Covid-19.  It is sad that thousands of people are losing their lives everyday.  Each country is fighting this attack in its own way.

It is not an easy battle, as this virus has no vaccine or medicine to cure.  Medical fraternity and scientists from around the world are working day and night to manage this pandemic.  We have seen nothing like this in our lives.  The Government has taken the responsibility and is handling the situation as best as it can.  We, as citizens, have to cooperate and do our bit too.  As the pandemic has led to so many other problems like the poor migrant labourers stuck in cities, without jobs, money and food, the poor in the city slums who earn their wages on a daily basis, now left without jobs and resources, the senior citizens locked in their houses needing assistance and so many such issues.  Thus, many kind-hearted individuals, as well as corporates and NGOs, have sprung up with varieties of services.  Many colleges have opened up their premises to give shelter to the migrant labourers.  The Government as well as many voluntary groups distribute cooked food to the really needy people, as also distribute dry ration kits to families in need.

Mansoor, our volunteer, who is a born activist, will of course not sit back, get locked in and relax.  He has formed his own group of volunteers.  He coordinates the activities of various groups by acting as a representative for various NGOs and mediating with the Government and the corporates who want to take up activities under their CSR project.  His group of volunteers was running 8 kitchens around the city for a few weeks for providing cooked food to the poor.  Thereafter, they have been organising distribution of free ration kits to the needy around the city and sometimes even in other nearby towns and cities.  They have been provided with two ambulances - one from a temple and one from a mosque.  They lend services to the needy senior citizens to go to the hospital or ferry patients discharged from hospitals to their homes.  They help families split on account of lockdown, unite.  For instance, the other day, an IT couple from Bangalore North used their services to fetch their 6-year-old daughter who was stuck with her grandparents in Bangalore South. Another instance is an appeal from a woman from Mysore, who is stuck with her mentally retarded daughter without resources.  This group immediately arranged for free ration kit to be delivered to her by next day.  They also deliver medicines required for patients suffering from cancer and other serious illness.  Last week, Mansoor had gone to the Vellore Hospital to deliver medicines, along with his friend and on his way back, he visited his fiancee, whom he was supposed to marry on 12th April, married her in her house and brought her home.  This is how these selfless volunteers have been working for the good of the society.  Our salutes to these brave youngsters and we pray for their safety and good health.

SAHYOG is one of the NGOs that is doing its bit through Mansoor and his friends.  We have ordered for 1000 homestitched masks with Goodwill International, another  NGO working with the poor women, for the use of the volunteers, who are 12000 in number.  We are also funding distribution of dry rations.

We are very thankful to all the donors, who have already donated their bit.  We call upon others to extend your generous help, so that we can be of use to more number of beneficiaries.  I know all of you might be donating to various organisations, Governments and individuals.  This is only a request.  Even a small token donation from each of you will make a big difference. We assure you of the genuine use of your funds as we are working at the grassroot level.

File photos of our Blood Donation Camp just to introduce Mansoor to you - the person in light coloured kurta.

Donations can be made directly by transferring the amount of your choice to our SB account SAHYOG, A/c No. 694104000002592 at IDBI bank, Yelahanka Satellite Town Branch, Bangalore-560064; IFSC - IBKL0000694; OR send a cheque/DD favouring ‘SAHYOG’ to SAHYOG, HIG 1212, 8th B Cross, Yelahanka Satellite Town, Bangalore-560064. SAHYOG’s PAN is “AAITS8846C”. Your donations to SAHYOG should be in Indian rupees only and you will be eligible for deductions under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.  

T.V. Raghavendran, Sadhana M Bhat, R.V, Narasimhachar and Sudha Narasimhachar

Founder Trustees

A small step ahead

Thanks to many good souls, we were able to renovate Ward No3 of the Shanthi Dhaama block of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, which costed Rs.3 lakhs.  We also donated Rs.1.5 lakhs towards getting the outside walls of the block painted.  The Director Dr. Ramachandra thanked us profusely.