The organisation is directly working with Government of Maharashtra by assisting local authorities in three districts including Raigad, Nashik and Mumbai
Swades Foundation joins the fight against COVID-19 and extends its support to migrant workers, Adivasi communities and medical personnel who are on the frontline battling the rising cases of Corona virus. Due to lack of opportunities, Adivasi community survival depends largely on the wages they receive working as labourers. The onset of this pandemic has forced the community out of work and the Foundation is working tirelessly to provide meals and consumables to the community while also backing the authorities in healthcare supplies and medical equipment’s. The organisation is directly working with the Government of Maharashtra by assisting local authorities in three districts including Raigad, Nashik and Mumbai. Swades Foundation is directly associated with the District Collector’s office in Raigad and Nashik and the BMC in Mumbai.
Swades Foundation is actively involved in the relief work amid this pandemic and is providing meals to the impacted migrant workers, daily wagers and underprivileged across Mumbai. The foundation will also help the medical fraternity who is fronting all odds in their endeavour to tackle patients who are suffering from the virus. Village Development Committees (VDCs) created by Swades Foundation in Raigad with the motive of sustainability in the village, is now reaching out to villagers to ensure basic necessities are being met in this time of crisis. With the support of donor partners, the Foundation aims to provide ‘grocery and daily essential kits’ to the daily wage earners and Adivasi communities across Raigad district. These kits contain cooking items, groceries, pulses vegetables and toiletries, etc.
Zarina Screwvala, Founder and MD, Swades Foundation said, “In these unprecedented times, we salute those who have worked tirelessly to safeguard the country. We have directly started to mobilise food and basic essentials for Adivasi communities in Maharashtra who have lost their means of livelihood, and with our implementing partner Project Mumbai we are providing daily meals to our doctors and police in Mumbai. We pledge our support to the Government of India to help combat the existing pandemic. We are deeply grateful for the generous support of our partners and donors like Standard Chartered Bank, Sony Pictures Networks India, Motilal Oswal Financial Service and DB Xento Systems to name a few.”
With the help from Standard Chartered Bank, the foundation will be able to reach out to the homeless and migrant worker population to supply more than 3,00,000 free meals including lunch and dinner across Mumbai. Swades Foundation and its partners including citizen volunteers are making sure that meals reach as many homeless as possible. Logistics are being managed by using kitchens from different locations and engaging with food delivery services.
Support from Sony Pictures Networks India, is helping the Foundation to provide medical aid in the form of consumables, equipment, medical gear etc. to further meet the requirements of hospitals and healthcare workers. Swades Foundation is also backed by other donors such as Motilal Oswal Financial Service and DB Xento Systems.
The Foundation along with its partners, hopes to continue catering meal services and extend help to healthcare workers till the crisis seems to recede. Swades Foundation urges CSR and individual donors to come together to support in this difficult time.