Campaign for COVID-19 Relief

An appeal to support the most vulnerable to fight hunger and deprivation

Following the lockdown…

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious threats the world has faced in centuries, calling for a global response. Since the fight against COVID 19 is likely to be a long one, there will be many sacrifices the world and India will have to make. The three-week shutdown until April 15, which has now been extended to May 3, is one of the many such possible moves aimed at containment of the virus.

However, as in any disaster, it is the poor and marginalised who suffer the most. A large number of jobs have been lost in both the formal and informal sectors. Housemaids, cooks, security guards, vendors, rag-pickers are no longer working. They are at home and don’t have money to buy food and other necessities. The Hon’ble Prime Minister has appealed to all of us to stand by each other and look after the poor in their hour of need.

What have we done so far?

We have already reached out to 578 families in 6 cities. We are focussing on the most vulnerable, the most excluded urban poor, including daily wage labour, street vendors, migrant and tribal communities,among others.

We are on the ground, in cities where we work (Ajmer, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Pune, Sambalpur). Our community management committees and helpdesks, run and managed by community members themselves, are feeding the poorest people and ensuring no one goes hungry. While the government is reaching out to people with ration cards, there is a large segment of population that is without such entitlements and is also at risk, more than ever.

Why are we raising funds?

The people need to be supported for at least three months.We are raising funds to ensure that people do not go hungry and that their other basic needs are met. We will use your money to buy food items such as dry ration for the most vulnerable groups such as people without ration cards, tenants and migrants with no identity, women and children, the sick and elderly people, among others. Our committed volunteers who belong to the communities know who are at most risk. They have identified such people and are supporting them. However, our current funds –donations made by individuals –are running out.

Who will benefit?

The most excluded urban poor-domestic workers, daily wage labour, greengrocers, street vendors, and excluded communities such as communities of Maratha gonda adivasi, sansi, transgender, people with disability, single women, elderly, ragpickers, nats, bangle-sellers, wool rollers, and refugees.

How we will use your funds:  We will use your funds to buy dry rations, gloves (for small groups eg transgender persons who are selling vegetables) dignity kits, basic health care items, etc.

How many people will we reach? A few hundred thousand people in several cities of India including Ajmer, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Madurai, Pune among others (lists are being prepared).

Donations to Centre for Advocacy and Research are tax-exempted under section 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act 1961. An acknowledgement receipt of Donation made by you, bearing Tax-Exemption (80G) Number, will be issued to the all Donors upon sharing PAN Number.

How to donate to CFAR to fight COVID-19

Please donate using one of these methods…

DONATION BY INDIAN DONATION BY FOREIGN AND NRI

DONATION BY INDIAN INDIVIDUAL/INSTITUTIONAL DONORS ONLY

DONATION BY FOREIGN INDIVIDUAL/INSTITUTIONAL DONORS AND NRI