…to Support Victims of

Kashmir Disaster

a PLEA…

Basic message

Read on to find out what to do and what not to

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** All contributions towards PMNRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G)

Donate to the PM national relief fund here

Donate to Goonj’s ‘Rahat Campaign’

My recent visit to KashmirOn a recent trip to Kashmir’s Sonamarg region, which is the base camp for Amarnath Yatra, I happen to know the wonderful beauty of the nature and the people living there.

The broken shoeMy shoe got broken while trekking and I came back after a two day 30Km stretch. I handled the adversities as me and a guide were to cover two days of distance within a single day.

The way backThe way back was long and treacherous with a weather that was changing moods. We had no other choice but to move quicker and shorter. We took a shortcut and as with any other detour, this was dangerous and exhausting.

The help offeredThe selfless offering of help from local people made me wonder about the of the aura of purity in the place. Many helped and many offered and I experienced the goodness of their hearts first hand.

The help offeredThe selfless offering of help from local people made me wonder about the of the aura of purity in the place. Many helped and many offered and I experienced the goodness of their hearts first hand.

I was invited

The help offeredThe selfless offering of help from local people made me wonder about the of the aura of purity in the place. Many helped and many offered and I experienced the goodness of their hearts first hand.

I was invitedintroduced

The help offeredThe selfless offering of help from local people made me wonder about the of the aura of purity in the place. Many helped and many offered and I experienced the goodness of their hearts first hand.

I was invitedintroduced and well fed

The call todayI received a call from one of my guides, Riyaz (9796161513) with whom I exchanged numbers. He told me about the devastation his village has faced. Though he and his family are safe a lot has been lost. Still when offered any help, he didn’t even have a clue of how it could reach him.

A lot has been lostNatural and man-made disasters result in tragic loss of life and cause extensive damage every year. The heavy floods caused by torrential rainfall have swept away whole valleys and lot has been lost.

Help is neededA comfortable sleep is also sometimes too much too ask for. What I faced was just a 30Km walk back to comfort of this blanket… and I realized how needed it was. I cannot imagine what would have been happening to those who have been stranded in those mountains for days without supplies.

A lot is still being lostAfter a disaster has struck, people everywhere want to help those in need. Rescue missions are being operated and military is reaching out with all resources. Citizens* throughout the nation have mobilized to offer assistance to the victims. Help is pouring in, yet a lot is being lost.

* CITIZENS – not media, not politician, not a social worker. We are all citizens at such a time, so avoid the political games and badly written articles and posts on social media.

Why is it getting lost?Despite the public's best intentions, donated goods that are unsolicited or inappropriate cause more harm than good. Unnecessary and unmanageable items can compete with essential relief goods for the limited capacity of personnel and operating facilities, and in turn, delay the delivery of necessary provisions to those most urgently in need

Do’s and don’ts

I want to help. What should I do first?

Save the children *You will receive your 80G Tax exemption certificate with in 12 days of making a donation

Goonj * Financial contributions can be given at GOONJ formal offices

Find out the needs of the disaster victims and respond properly. Immediately following a disaster, local disaster relief officials will determine the needs of their community. These officials will then provide the media and various disaster relief organizations with a needs list.

Look for reports from the media or a recognized volunteer agency experienced in disaster response. Ones working actively with Kashmir disaster relief

What do disaster victims need most?Money. Financial contributions are the most useful form of disaster assistance. They help guarantee that relief workers have the funds necessary to provide disaster victims with needed supplies in a timely fashion. Donating money also eliminates many of the logistical concerns such as transportation, distribution and spoilage frequently associated with donations of unsolicited, unsized clothing and perishable mixed food items. Money also helps the local economy recover.

Priority materials are: Finance

Medicines - anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, paracetamols, antibiotics, chlorine tablets, disinfectants Dry rations - biscuits, rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, milk powder, cooking oil, etc. Building materials - plastic sheets, plastic buckets, tarpaulins, etc Clothes - bed sheets, blankets, children's clothes Household items - utensils, stove, torch & batteries

Stationery Aids - notebooks, pencils, pens etc

About medicine?Medical supplies are highly specialized commodities that must have a distribution channel of qualified personnel. If medical supplies are called for, medicines sent must have a shelf life of at least six months after arriving at

the disaster site, and they must also be clearly labeled. The arrival of unnecessary medicines at a disaster scene can be a burden rather than an asset. Old prescription medications should never be sent.

Can I send food to the disaster area?Food scarcity is not an immediate problem. If food is requested, baby food is needed first, then ready-to-eat, non-perishable food items. It is also important that donated food be clearly labeled to facilitate distribution.

Do disaster victims need clothing?Woolens, Blankets, Tents, raincoats, umbrellas, Bed sheets YES!

Rest for the most part, the answer is "no." Unless specifically asked for, donations of clothing are generally being discouraged. Clothing and shoes are usually not needed right after a disaster. There is neither the time nor distribution channels to ensure that donated items don't go to waste.

For long term settlements or refuge camps organizations might be requesting clothes. If clothing is requested, new clothes are preferred. Used clothing should be cleaned and in good condition.

Can I go directly to the disaster scene and volunteer to help?Although well-intentioned, volunteers who have not been specifically requested at a disaster site frequently just add to the existing chaos. If you want to go to the disaster scene, first call either the local social service group of your neighborhood. (Note: these voluntary organization conducts a basic training program for volunteers and usually only sends volunteers that have completed adequate training.). Local emergency services directors can also be contacted about volunteering for disaster relief efforts

How can businesses and organizations help?For Employees: Businesses and organizations can conduct fund-raising efforts in their community with the proceeds going to the disaster area. Be aware of your companies CSR activities and send a mail to the responsible individuals or take help from HR to direct you.

For Organizations: Businesses and organizations wishing to make donations should first contact local officials to find out what is needed. Once the needs have been determined, it is helpful for the business or organization to choose a single type of item to donate. This facilitates organization and distribution at the disaster site. The donors should also be prepared to provide for the transportation of the goods and arrange for the delivery and unloading of the supplies at a specified location. Loading and unloading is much more efficient when shipments are transported on portable platforms that can be transferred using a standard forklift.

What about donating blood?Blood is always needed following a major disaster. Contact your local Red Cross chapter or a local hospital for information on how you can donate blood for disaster victims.

Should I share and post on social media?Yes, if it is actually helping. Spread awareness. Share viable links to support centers, donation camp details, phone numbers and addresses. Share stories of your contribution. Lead with example. I have read much nonsense about the floods and news.

Media channels are also irresponsibly writing super hero stories about our ‘savior’ politicians. Social media is getting overloaded with posts of condemn and bias against political leaders. This is not the time of who did what, it shouldn’t matter.

Start following the volunteer organizations and write them a mail about how you appreciate their work. It is not a big task for you but means a lot of motivation to those who are in it.

If you have information about any additional initiatives on the Kashmir

Disaster Relief Efforts, Comment below or PM me

If you donate please let others know and encourage them (comment below).

You reached this far… half the work is done.

Donate to the PM national relief fund here Donate to Goonj’s ‘Rahat Campaign’

Thanks in anticipation!!!