BENGALURU: Youth groups in the city are using social media in a big way to collect food and medicines for people affected by the deluge in Chennai.
Some volunteers are heading for that city in their cars. Aditya, a hardware engineer, set out on Thursday night, carrying material collected from Whitefield.
“I just posted my number on Facebook and Twitter. People from various localities called me and handed over biscuits, dry fruits and sanitary napkins,” he told Express.
Adithya gathered the material near Hypercity mall in Whitefield. “I have also offered to bear all medical expenses of any pregnant woman who needs urgent medical attention,” he said. His company has offered him unconditional leave.
Artistes Team Up
Young artistes will send a vehicle to Chennai on Saturday. Alice, a TV assistant director, and her friends posted a request for contributions on Facebook. Actor and musician Alok said, “We have received more than 100 calls and many people have dropped off material at my place.”
Sridevi, president, NGO Pragalbham Bharatham, has found a unique way to help. “We buy goods to send to Chennai. When people call us, we ask how much they are willing to donate. We send bills to them and they give us the money.”
Batter Supply
ID Fresh Foods, a company specialising in idli and dosa batter, has stopped distributing its products in Bengaluru. With help from Bangalore Foodies Club, a Facebook group, it is diverting its supplies to Chennai.
CEO Musthafa said, “We have a plant in Chennai that has stopped working because of the floods. Our unit here in Hosakote worked as usual and we asked Bengalureans for help to transport the material. Within minutes of posting a message on Facebook, we received a massive response.” Many volunteers are driving with the batter till Sri Perumbudur. “We have tied up with groups there to distribute our material,” he told Express. ID is sending 10,000 packets of batter, which can make 2.2 lakh idlis, 50,000 paranthas and 1 lakh chapatis.
Group Effort
People from all walks are forming small groups and collecting relief in Bengaluru. They have appointed area-co-ordinators to gather and transport relief material.
Software Firms Move Operations
Bengaluru: Software companies with offices in Chennai had the luxury of moving work over to other places. Infosys said in a statement, “The campuses in Chennai will be shut on December 4. Our business continuity plans are underway, and we have taken necessary action to ensure client commitments are met, which includes managing work from other locations.”
Forum Pledges Relief Material
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Tamil Sangham has decided to donate money and relief materials to the Chennai flood victims. In a meeting held on Thursday evening, the members decided to collect money and materials. “We have already collected `25,000 on the first day, and teams from the city will be heading to Chennai with relief materials,” Sangham president Damodaran said.