Over the next six months, I am preparing to divert my $$$ to India to fight against COVID.
This makes me sound completely pompous but at the moment, I can only donate small amounts, but that’s ok. Even US$ 5 now counts more than before.
I will be staggering my donations because its just not clear if existing supplies are getting to where they need to be in India.
But I will also be donating to places that I have a high confidence are managed well, have a strong presence in India already and/or did a half-decent job during the previous lockdown. Experience and on the ground expertise to deploy funds in India matter. I am just not keen on the GoFundMe pages where individuals are deciding to donate for the first time to India and somehow procure and figure out the oxygen supply chain in India. Ya, whatever.
In no particular order this is where I am donating:
Khalsa Aid
The marketing blurb is on-point, “Khalsa Aid is an international NGO with the aim to provide humanitarian aid in disaster areas and civil conflict zones around the world. The organisation is based upon the Sikh principle of “Recognise the whole human race as one”.
This NGO springs into action irrespective of the location of where the crisis is. They are almost the first on the spot and because of its network of volunteers (in any country) it just gets on with the job. Also, I find it reassuring that they never have a fundraising drive.
Link to the organisation Khalsa Aid
British Asian Trust: Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal
The British Asian Trust has a track record of fund raising for South Asia and working in Asia. The marketing blurb is, “Our programmes work to reduce poverty and disadvantage for communities in South Asia. At all times, our focus is on outcomes and impact.”
Key focus areas include: anti-trafficking, education, mental health, livelihoods and so on.
Today, the focus of this charity is Oxygen and specifically, oxygen concentrators. You can read more at this LINK, which also has a link for donation.
Wishes and Blessings
I have written endless praise of the work that this charity does. However, what struck me is during the first lockdown (March 2020), they sprung into action feeding daily wage workers, who overnight had been left destitute because of the harsh lockdown.
I can’t seem to find the precise number but the NGO served lakhs of daily meals to people who otherwise would have starved.
Here is a link to their renewed COVID effort, which has been expanded to ration and hygiene kits, covering Assam, Delhi, Jharkand and West Bengal. They are a small operation, and aim to distribute 1,00 kits/month.
The NGO believes in complete transparency and you can join a watsapp group monitoring their progress.
The donations must be made from within India and they are not structured for overseas payments.