India: appeal to support Kutch Karuna Abhiyan

Dear Friends and well-wishers,

With villages, towns and cities of India wrecked by the deadly second wave of Covid and citizens gasping for want of oxygen and medical support, our collaborative of grass root organisations in Kutch return to seek your support. Like the rest of India, Kutch too has got engulfed by Covid, and communities across this far-flung district in India are reeling under the complete collapse of an already weak and flimsy medical system. We have come together to support unserved communities - daily wage earners, artisans, vendors, migrants, vulnerable communities - in rural and urban Kutch, which is seeing widespread infection of Covid and are in dire need of medical rescue and economic support. Given the circumstances, we have launched the following emergency support services -

1. Tele-medicine and e-consultation support for Covid patients: A panel of doctors will provide medical advice and counselling to patients in remote villages and urban slums with limited access to healthcare. This being the largest district in India, with far flung villages, it is imperative that the communities get quick on-line support facilitated by field volunteers.

2. Distribution of safety equipment and monitoring devices amongst trained volunteers and community members

3. Communication campaign: In order to control the spread of the virus, guide patients to the correct set of resources, as well as help people overcome fears of vaccinations and testing. Will use credible influencers from amongst the community, community radio, social media, and volunteers.

4. Community kitchens and tiffin systems for Covid affected community members: Needed for families who are infected and quarantined, as well as the old and single women/men facing distress due to the pandemic.

5. Establishing quarantine centres for Covid patients in gram panchayats and urban slums.

6. Dedicated vaccination camps in collaboration with registered medical institutions.

We are covering 1 lakh families. More significantly, we are covering three Wards of Bhuj Town which covers 42 slum pockets and 25% of the population in Bhuj. In addition, we are supporting 20 Group Gram Panchayats covering 75,000 families, including 3000 craft artisans, all of whom have been severely affected by the pandemic.

A count of 200 female sex workers and transgender populations that are critically vulnerable to the pandemic by virtue of their profession, loss of livelihood and societal shunning will also be covered. We are aiming to raise Rs. 60 Lacs (In words rupees sixty lacs) through this appeal, which can be used in the next couple of months for our emergency work. You are requested to transfer your donations to Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS)’s account (one of the coordinating organisations in this joint initiative). We will ensure that your support reaches only those in need, and assure you of complete transparency and accountability of our relief work.

1) The account details for donation coming from domestic donations (Non-FCRA):

Bank name: Bank of Baroda
Branch address: Station Road Branch Station Road Bhuj PIN - 370 001
Account name: Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan
Account number: 03730100026341
IFSC code: BARB0BHUJXX (Fifth character is Zero.)

2) The account details for donations coming from foreign donations (FCRA):

Bank name: State Bank of India
Branch Address: 11, Sansad Marg, New Delhi, Delhi 110 001
Account name: Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan
Account number: 40052265312
IFSC Code: SBIN0000691
Swift Code: SBININBB104

Receipts of Acknowledgment will be generated and shared by KMVS.

Thank you for keeping the spirit of giving and sharing alive and joining hands in supporting our communities who will truly feel the warmth of your helping hand.

Coordinating Person: Aruna Joshi, KMVS (+91-9428294359) Ghatit Laheru, Khamir (+91-9979450131) Manish Acharya, Setu Abhiyan (+91-9825777343)