Mumbai, 07th November, 2020: A global pandemic. A nation-wide lockdown. A humanitarian crisis. Natural Calamities. All in a steep span of 7 months. Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), a Pune based NGO: working in the areas of healthcare, education, social welfare and water & environment conservation, stepped up to help the country get through this crisis by ensuring that nobody was forgotten and left behind.
Quick in their efforts, team MMF was at the forefront to mobilize support. Immediate steps were taken to ensure that the frontline warriors across multiple hospitals of urban Pune and rural Maharashtra had adequate supply of PPE kits, facemasks, equipment and other medical necessities. Within the first 2 months of the pandemic MMF had supported nearly 80k daily wage earners with grocery essentials and cooked meals. Reaching out to the many displaced families across West Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra, Mukul Madhav Foundation assisted to rescue and rehabilitate hose affected by Cyclone Amphan, Cyclone Nisarga and floods across Assam.
To support India get back on its feet – with sheer grit and resilience Mukul Madhav Foundation launched its initiative #GiveWithDignityTM which is serving grocery and hygiene essential kits to more than 70,000 households across 24 states with a hope to spread joy and happiness, this festive season.
20,000 kits are being distributed between October 25th and November 13th across 20 districts of Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, Amravati, Beed, Osmanabad, Vidharb, Marathwada, Gadchiroli, Washim, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Buldhana, Parbhani, Nashik, Solapur, Sangli, Satara, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and Jalgoan). These 20k kits for Maharashtra have been sponsored by IndusInd Bank, Finolex Industries and Mukul Madhav Foundation.
The beneficiaries belong to marginalized communities who have been identified with the help of NGOs, like-minded friends, well-wishers of the Foundation along with the support of local District Administration. Majority of the kits contents have been procured from SHGs, MSMEs and other NGO’s. The ration supplies have been sourced from Purti Group, Maandeshi Foundation and Star Foods. Masks have been made by CYDA (Centre for Youth Development and Activities) and SOBATI, Baramati have supported us with sanitary napkins.
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Uddhavji Thackrey, inaugurated and flagged off the drive on Saturday 7th November,2020 in Mumbai in a small ceremony at the Matoshree Sports Club. Others present at the drive were Adv. Gauri Chhabria, Mr. Paul Abraham, CEO, Hinduja Foundation, Mr. B R Mehta, Vice President, Finolex Industries, and Mr. Sanjay Asher, Director, Orbit and Mr. Subash Desai, Sr. Leader of Shiv Sena and Minister of Industries Maharashtra.
Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Minister of Shipping and the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of India applauded and blessed the Foundation for this initiative and its effort of empowering small local businesses.
Collaboration has ensured we could upscale this initiative and the generous donations from institutional and individual donors has allowed us to reach many more beneficiaries. Finolex Industries Ltd, CavinKare, Marico, Hinduja Foundation, Nestle, Indorama, IndusInd Bank, Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil and other corporates have willingly come forward this Diwali to #GiveWithDignity
Speaking about the activity, Mrs. Ritu Prakash Chhabria, Managing Trustee, Mukul Madhav Foundation said, “The pandemic has been a true test of strength, determination and grit. At MMF we are committed to serve the society – irrespective of the challenges thrown at us as we strive to rise to the occasion and ensure we are there to assist the most vulnerable in any situation. What was a dream 9 weeks ago has transformed into reality and will culminate on Diwali. #GiveWithDignityTM is an emotion that has strived to empower SHG’s & MSME’s while in turn ensuring those who have lost their livelihood are provided with basic grocery and hygiene essentials. The power of collaboration has brought some of the leading brands to join hands with us and support us in our mission to spread hope and happiness this festive season. I am indebted to all those who have had faith in the work we do and lent us their support thereby rippling the benefit to many more.”
The pandemic has been harsh and taken a toll on financial stability, mental and physical wellbeing. The Foundation is committed to serve the society and help the severely affected bounce back.
