The fundraiser initiated by Sphoorti Foundation has crossed Rs 32 lakh and they have distributed 7,500 kits to migrant workers in Hyderabad and its outskirts. And yet, they are raring to go.
The campaign launched on GlobalGiving, a US-based crowdsourcing platform, Donatekart, a social enterprise and Impact Guru, a crowdsourcing platform and circulated on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn is still going strong. Thanks to their donor network in the US and in India. Sphoorti Foundation works for underprivileged children and provides them with residential care along with education and they are not holding back to do their bit during these testing times either.
With the help of police
It was when Srivyal Vuyyuri, Founder of the Hyderabad-based foundation, realised two to three days into the lockdown that there are people who are going hungry that he activated their donor network to gather funds and distribute a basic kit. This kit, that lasts a family of four for about four months, is worth about Rs 500 and contains four to five kgs of rice, two kgs of atta (because most migrant workers are from the north, he says), salt, dal, turmeric, chili powder, soap and so on. The products are procured from vendors whom they have been purchasing supplies for many years. They have been working in tandem with the police, who were flexible with allowing NGOs to travel during the first phase of the lockdown, but now they are more strict, hence, the NGO hands over the supplies to the police, who carry out the distribution process. And the information about needy migrant workers and which area they are situated in came from volunteers and their donor network which includes, MLC, Chairman of Telangana State Legal Services Authority and even the ACP of police.
The foundation has been receiving many distress calls. "We even received a call from Chhattisgarh informing us about their people who are stuck in Hyderabad without food," informs Srivyal. This way, one of the first calls they received was from Habsiguda and then they went on to the neighbouring area of Ramanthapur and more. Their recent activities include distributing kits to Uber drivers, migrant workers in Domalguda, Rayadurgam (who were identified by the police), families from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram in Gundlapochampally, the workers from Bihar near Langar Houz and many, many more. "It is the outskirts of the city, where major construction activities are going on, that most migrant workers are to be found," he points out. He also ensures that he shares daily updates via social media to keep their donor network informed and inspire other donors to come forward and join their cause.
What's up next?
What Srivyal has noticed is that there are many who are not taking the dictum of wearing masks in public spaces seriously, whatever the reason may be. "They make do with handkerchiefs, dupattas or their pallu. So we want to start a campaign to collect reusable face masks and distribute them," he says and adds, "Even girls and women who cannot step out of the house are unable to purchase sanitary napkins. We would like to distribute that as well."
While 80 per cent of the children residing in Sphoorti have left for their home, as per the government orders, the rest, especially those who are in Class X, are studying and are connected to their teachers through WhatsApp calls and videos. The rest of the staff at the foundation helps pack the kits and ensure that they collectively reach out to all those in need.
