MUMBAI: As Covid-19 pandemic impact has adversely affected the lives and livelihoods of people from the less privileged sections of society including those with disability, Avashya Foundation, CSR arm of Allcargo Logistics, came forward to offer monetary aid to 150 visually impaired people from the economically weaker section.
After identifying visually impaired people in need in Thane, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai whose livelihoods have come to a standstill due to the pandemic, Avashya Foundation representatives handed over the monetary aid to them. The volunteers travelled to areas such as Malad, Vasai, Chembur, Ambernath, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Vashi, Kurla, Vangani, Shelu, etc. to deliver financial aid.
This one-of-a-kind initiative in partnership with Saad Foundation has brought the much-needed relief to their lives. The financial assistance helped them meet household needs, fulfil medicine requirements and buy essentials for their families in this time of crisis.
“Among all the vulnerable communities in our society, people with visual impairment have been the worst affected by the pandemic impact. As mobility of people is restricted to comply with the social distancing norms and public transport systems are yet to be normalised in the post-lock down phase, the livelihoods of the visually impaired people from the economically weaker section are going through a prolonged phase of uncertainty. By extending financial assistance to these people, we have tried to minimise the stress and give them hope so that they can carry on with their lives amid day-to-day challenges,” said Dr. Nilratan R. Shende, GM –CSR, Allcargo Logistics.
“The financial assistance from Avashya Foundation infused fresh hope in me amid pandemic situation. My wife is diabetic and is on medication and I have been buying medicine on credit from a medical store for quite some time now, as I have lost my regular earning. The monetary support will help me support my wife’s medication in this critical time,” said Ramvilas Mulai, a beneficiary.
Avashya Foundation works towards promoting people-centric inclusive development with the active participation of the community at all levels, covering diverse areas like health, education, women’s empowerment, environment sustainability, sports and disaster relief.
In the recent past, Avashya Foundation organized life-saving free-of-cost heart surgeries to 25 children from underprivileged sections of the society in Mumbai. During the lockdown phase, it distributed grocery kits to 380 families in some tribal localities in Maharashtra who lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic impact. In a separate initiative, it offered approximately 30,000 meals for migrant labourers and daily wage earners impacted by the lockdown. The organization also offered relief support to these economically weaker sections of the society during lockdown.
