Lockdown Legends: Kaumudi Nagaraju
She raised more than Rs. 4,50,000 during the lockdown and helped more than 2000 families
Nanditha Ajith and Ravi Mathews are Reap Benefit volunteers currently in their first year at Azim Premji University.
This lockdown has been bad for us all, especially for the less privileged. It has taken its toll on those working in the informal sector, especially the urban informal sector. With little by way of incomes, no social security net to fall back on and dwindling food and essential supplies, the situation looks bleak for many.
However, these bleak times also bring out the best among us, there are many who work tirelessly to help those around them even when all seems lost, often at great personal risk. Those fighting at the frontline of the pandemic like our doctors, nurses, police force come to mind, as do private citizens extending their time, resources and support for the greater good.
One among them is Kaumudi Nagaraju, co-founder of Hyderabad based organisation the Learning Space Foundation (LSF).
LSF works with eight schools in the city to educate children around sexual harassment, gender sensitization and menstrual health. They also provide academic support to students and conduct awareness programs on health and hygiene.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, LSF started focusing on relief efforts and how to get essential supplies to those in need.
“After the lockdown started, I couldn’t sit idle while I read in the papers that many people were struggling for food.”
I was feeling extremely uneasy and guilty because I wasn’t doing anything about it. So I started reaching out to people, raising funds, venturing out to distribute items (with police permission of course) and reaching out to other NGOs and kind-hearted volunteers in Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. They helped me help the underserved.” said Kaumudi.
LSF had never raised this quantum of funds before or distributed relief on such a large scale.
“But all our donors placed an enormous amount of trust in us to provide for those in need. They are the great heroes. We told them they can save lives from home and extend a little love and support to those in need through us,” Kaumudi shared.
LSF managed to raise close to 4.5 lakh from donors since the lockdown started and that number continues to rise. These donations are funding a variety of relief efforts. Through LSF, groceries were sent to Sridevi Sannidhi Home for differently-abled children. 200 kgs of rice, pulses, oils and other essential groceries was sent to a home for the destitute with 50 people run by Karunadharam Charitable Trust in Chengicherla, Boduppal. Kaumudi extended help beyond her city by helping people in Chennai and Bangalore as well.
In Chennai, LSF has reached out to 200 families in need of ration and are looking to expand their network in the city. They also provided support for 50 people who belonged to the transgender community in the city.
In Bangalore, Kaumudi came into contact with one of Reap Benefit’s on-the-ground co-ordinators, Archana. She graciously provided rations for the families of 24 Solve Ninjas, Reap Benefit’s student volunteers.
Of course, the foundation’s relief efforts couldn’t have been possible in isolation. They were aided by the Society for Cyberabad Council( SCSC), a collaborative effort between the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate and IT companies located around the Cyberabad area. The organization was set up in 2006 to look into security and safety concerns for the IT sector in the area. However in the wake of the migrant crisis Hyderabad is facing, the SCSC is helping with relief efforts in a collaboration with private citizens and organizations. Emergency calls are taken up at the Cyberabad Coronavirus Control Room.
Their activities include distributing emergency rations and medicines, arranging ambulance services and ensuring a proper lockdown is maintained.
Learning Space Foundation ensures people who call in for help get it through their partnership with the SCSC and their on-the-ground logistics network.
“Personal hygiene is very important in times like this and in collaboration with the Cyberabad Control Room, we have managed to raise funds for 1000 packets of sanitary napkins to distribute.” Kaumudi said.
Of course, there is still a lot more to be done.
There are millions of people across the country in dire need of relief. However, people like Kaumudi Nagaraju give you hope. They show you that no effort, however small, is insignificant in the life of someone in need. And that is what sets them apart.
