City reaches out of Nepal... by _ShAnE_StArK_ 2015/05/11 16:49
A young woman drops a packet of clothes into a
box at Heart Cup Cafe in uptown Jubilee Hills, that
conducted a drive, collecting donations in the
form of cash and other essential commodities to
be sent to quake-affected people in Nepal. --
Photo: Nagara Gopal
Hyderabadis are going all out to help to victims of
the devastating Nepal earthquake even as they
urge fellow citizens to pitch in
It’s been two weeks since Nepal was
devastated by a massive earthquake that left
several Indian cities rattled as well. Though it is
no longer on the headlines or on people’s minds,
it is a fact that Nepal still needs help. Rescue
missions may have done their job and withdrawn
from that country, but rehabilitation efforts are
still on. While several agencies and individuals
from across the world have jumped at the
opportunity to extend help to the victims of the
calamity, Hyderabadis too are extending all
possible assistance. From companies and
educational institutions in the city jumping into
action to several individuals and NGOs are also
doing everything they can to gather relief
material that can be sent across to Nepal.
One event that was organised for this cause
was the three-day music programme at Heart
Cup Cafe by Nirmala V. and her business
partner Akshay. The duo got on board several
city musicians to perform at the three day
event, with all the concerned parties signing on
to help out for free. “We decided to hold this
event and invite people to attend the
programme and donate in kind. We thought it
was better to send items like clothes, food and
toiletries than cash to the victims. Through this
drive we urged people to donate that way,”says
Nirmala. Called ‘Pray for Nepal’, the event
culminated on Sunday with over 10 artistes
performing.
Media professional Sana Mirza also has been
helping collect relief material along with her
friends. “So far we have managed to send
things like crutches, wheelchairs, medicines,
first aid kits, clothes and dry ration. I was a little
hesitant to collect cash as I didn't want to hand
it over to someone that I couldn't trust it with,”
she says, adding, “though a lot of people have
donated, it is still not enough. However, people
are quite forthcoming and the instant they see
our messages on social media they've been
calling and texting for details. A friend's uncle
works with the Rotary club in Nepal, so we have
been sending cash donations if any, to him, and
he buys medicines to distribute, with that
amount.”
Quick, impromptu teams are also doing their bit
to help. Take for instance, the Nepal quake
relief from Hyderabad. The team of like minded
individuals created a Facebook page to draw
attention to the cause and have already sent a
batch of essentials like baby food, dry ration and
medicines. In fact, their page on Facebook
urges people to avoid sending clothes and
blankets since the immediate need is for
medication and food items. They've created a
couple of drop points across the city where
volunteers can make their donations. Says Sohel
Mateen, one of the members of the group,
“We've been asking people to donate things like
rice, milk powder and medicines, since that is
what is needed in Nepal now. Especially
medication like paracetamol, since a lot of
people at the relief camps are suffering from
fever and paracetamol is in short supply there.”
He adds, that while a domestic airline had
announced that they would fly relief material to
Nepal for free, their local office said that they
had no such scheme. “So we are sending
whatever we collect to a contact person in
Mumbai who is shipping it off to Nepal,” says
Sohel.
Local NGOs are also putting together supplies
to be sent. Arun Daniel Yellamaty, founder
Youngistaan Foundation, says, “We've managed
to collect rice, tents and blankets from our
centres in Delhi, Bhopal, Mumbai and Hyderabad
and have sent across close to 100 rice bags
apart from clothes and medication. The good
thing is people are very eager to help and have
come forward to donate these items even
before we thought of sending them. We have
been coordinating with a few local NGOs in
Nepal and are sending them what they feel is
required on ground.”
Here’s hoping all this goodwill will actually help
victims of the earthquake in Nepal...
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