Play 9 – Playbook for Morrisville

PLAY NUMBER NINE: Reach out to Tech Community to Help Raise Money for India.

As we kick off Asian American Heritage Month, I am saddened to see so many Morrisville and Cary families affected by the Covid Crisis in India with over 3600 deaths a day in a nation where only 2% are vaccinated.

My play of the week is that we need to work closely with the Tech CEOs and companies to help raise money for local charities, that are sending supplies, and resources directly to India. Many Indian Americans work in the Tech industry and companies here, like Cisco, IBM, Infosys, Lenovo, SAS, HCL and a number of other these companies also have offices in India. We need their to help India get through this crisis and rebuild a strong, vibrant Indian economy, which will result in increased trade and investment between North Carolina and India. In addition, India is also the pharmacy of the world, so we also ask our market leading Pharma and Life Science companies to help us in these efforts.
I am working to organize an event in the next few days with CEOs of our Tech Companies for a fundraising event to raise money for India.

How can Tech and Pharma help raise funds for India Relief?

I am working with the local temples, BAPS and Hindu Society of NC and leaders across the nation to help in raising funds for India.

• Desai Foundation: https://thedesaifoundation.org/our-work/science-math-secondary-school/
• BAPS Charities: www.bapscharities.org

As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, countries and communities are facing unforeseen challenges. Beginning in April 2021, the situation in India has become very dire, stressing hospital systems in many parts of the country to the brink of collapse. India currently has the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia, and, as of April 2021, has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the world. The daily case count as well as death count continue to rise. There is a dire need for medical supplies as well as support for livelihood.

Through its affiliated centers and hospitals in India, BAPS Charities has already supported many activities including medical equipment and supplies, temporary hospital beds and food to those in need. But the need now is much more than ever.

SEWA India Covid Relief Program https://www.sewausa.org/.
Sewa International’s Help India Defeat COVID-19 Campaign and is seeking your support. They are raising funds for buying supplies, and ensuring that the much-needed lifesaving medical equipment like oxygen-concentrators and ventilators are acquired and shipped to hospitals across Bharat.

The goal is to raise Ten million dollars to purchase following equipment.
Cost:

• $501 for Oxygen Concentrator
• $25,000 for Ventilators
• Any amount as per your convenience

WEST BENGAL OXYGEN ON WHEELS INITIATIVE
Please donate at https://friendsoflfwb.org/cov/

West Bengal is one of the hardest hit States in India from the Covid Pandemic as hundreds are dying every day. Given very limited Oxygen supply in West Bengal– community leaders ARE PUTTING A PROGRAM OF OXYGEN ON WHEELS. This is a critical and dire situation in many of the rural villages in India, particularly in West Bengal. Providing a steady supply of Oxygen will cost at least $700 per concentrator and we are planning to send 100 to India.

Funds raised will go directly to purchase Oxygen Concentrators in ambulances, which will then get to rural villages in West Bengal and to develop field COVID CARE Facilities in rural villages… Each of these could be having 30 -50 beds and will be manned by TRAINED HEALTH WORKERS, controlled by TELE GUIDANCE (Doctors availability is sparse).