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India Currents gave me a voice in days I was very lost. Having my articles selected for publishing was very validating – Shailaja Dixit, Executive Director, Narika, Fremont
This article is being revised and updated with information & resources. Originally published on April 30, 2021.
The second wave of COVID in India has caused over 18 million people to be affected by the virus, most of whom are currently struggling to get beds in hospitals, or oxygen supply, or sustainable food.
People have lost lives before they were even given a chance. Thursday, April 29th, an India Currents’ writer’s cousin (a doctor) posted an urgent request for a ventilator with a bed in Jabalpur. A day later, the bed was not needed because the man passed away. He was only 52.
Indian Americans are far from their families, unable to provide physical support or be with their loved ones at their deathbed.
“I wish I could be with my family and help. It’s horrible having to hear of young sons having to organize the funerals of their fathers,” a reader in the Bay Area reports.
Students in India feel frustrated and hurt with the current situation: “I can’t believe I’m doing assignments and working when people around me are struggling to just stay alive!?” While their siblings, or grandparents, or parents, or friends are hospitalized and struggling, students are preparing for exams or finishing assignments.
At an Ethnic Media Services briefing on the COVID crisis in India, the host of KALW Dispatches, Sandip Roy stated that the anxiety India is facing is quite new and never felt to this extent before: “A friend of mine sent a message saying my wife lost her uncle yesterday in Kanpur and he died at the back of a taxi looking for a bed”.
He called out the actions (or lack thereof) taken to improve the public healthcare infrastructure, adding that the privileged tend to live in a bubble but COVID has broken that bubble between the privileged and the poor.
“It is wonderful that the world has been stepping up to help India in need…I would like to think that it is not just for the geopolitical need but also because it is the right thing to do.”
The global measures, however, do not “excuse” the government from not being more ready for the second wave.
Studies done by multiple universities are projecting a surge in cases over the next two weeks (May 9-22).
PRIME MINISTER’S ACTION
In the beginning phases, India was at the forefront of a promising vaccinated future. Prime Minister Modi had even generously donated doses to other countries that needed it. But, this act was met with backlash as Indians pointed out his inadequate response to the pandemic by holding rallies that usually involved large gatherings. People took to Twitter to address the poor governance. Hashtags such as ResignModi trended for hours.
The government changed its policies, finally understanding the weight of the crisis and reducing the cost of the doses, and pushing to vaccinate those who are 18 and older beginning May 1st. However, the pandemic in India needs global aid and support.
THE GLOBAL RESPONSE
Multiple countries like the UK, the USA, Russia, Italy, and Germany have sent oxygen concentrators and various medical supplies to aid the raging pandemic in India. However, the primary requirement to save lives is the vaccine, of which India does not have enough doses. The U.S especially has been heavily criticized for stockpiling vaccines and not using them. Just recently, it was found that the United States is sitting on millions of vaccine doses that are not being pushed for us. Due to backlash, President Joe Biden confirmed that the US would be sending vaccines to India.
California has also shipped out oxygen supplies to India in response. In a statement regarding the response to the crisis in India, Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Everyone deserves quality medical treatment against this terrible disease, and California will answer the call and provide aid to the people of India who so desperately need it.”
College students have set up fundraisers for COVID relief in India through clubs and other organizations. The UC Davis Bharatanatyam dance club Sunatya for example posted an explanation of the crisis in India with links for donation.
WHAT WE CAN DO
Even though we see different media outlets update the number of cases every day, it is important to remember that each case is an individual human, not a statistic on a report.
In the past week, there has been a flurry of messages on WhatsApp with different people that have been offering home-cooked meals for families.
Activists in India have been constantly checking various websites and dashboards online that update oxygen, medicine, and bed availability; calling the numbers and verifying the reliability of the supplies.
Due to the high need for these supplies, the suppliers often almost immediately are exhausted of their resources and end up having no more to offer. One Hyderabadi local, Meghana Kudligi has been continuously doing this for a couple of days and now has steady contacts that get in touch with her in case of an update. She is a student in college, and all her Instagram stories have offered donation links, food availability, medical supplies, oxygen, and beds. This can be done by any of us. Sharing a link, finding a verified donation page, donating money…we aren’t helpless!
RESOURCES
Local Organizations
Multiple Organizations such as Anubhuti, TYCIA, Mazdoor Kitchen, and many many more have set up donation links for medicine, oxygen, and food supplies.
Compiled resources: bit.ly/MutualAidIndia
More locally verified donation organizations by Meghana Kudligi: https://www.instagram.com/p/COQNpjDA9rI/?igshid=1f7x04yh8nioz
Yuva covid relief resources: https://www.instagram.com/weareyuvaa/guide/covid-relief-resources-pan-india/18074855854262944/?igshid=kjcjq6qi9okf
Indian American Projects Funding COVID Crisis in India
A group of photographers from the Indian Diaspora raising money for India’s Covid Crisis – 100% of Profits Donated: https://shamiana.darkroom.tech/#
Indiaspora’s campaign for aid to India: https://www.chalogive.org/
Community Partners International (CPI) sending oxygen to India for ventilators:
Deshpande Foundation is collaborating with CPI to have a FedEx plane ready for delivery on May 8, 2021. It will be loaded up with 3,400 oxygen concentrators and a few more million N-95 masks to balance the load and have it land in Mumbai by May 10th. TATA Memorial Center will use these units in their own hospitals, as well as dispatch them to other hospitals. The government of India will not be charging any customs duty. It costs $1,500 to buy a unit. Please donate funds to buy one or more units to save lives in India. You can send the funds to
- Bank Name: Wells Fargo Bank, NA
- Bank Address: 2144 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704
- Account Name: Community Partners International
- Account Number: 6455450715
- ABA / Routing Number: 121000248
- Address: 580 California Street, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
- Tax ID 94-3375666
Rotary Club of Silicon Valley for Global Impact:
This campaign is a plea to raise funds to procure Oxygen Concentrators in larger quantities to meet the huge demand and help millions impacted. With the supply chain in place, the IAHV team can get these machines imported in 4 to 5 days. An Oxygen Concentrator cost is approximately $800 per unit. IAHV may also use these funds for other critical equipment such as Ventilators, Beds, etc., depending on how the situation evolves further.
- Contact: Ravi Pathak (ravi_pathak@yahoo.com)
- Link to Donate: http://tiny.cc/OVBICovidRelief
***
In a time of anger and pain, the hope for better guides us. We can be the change we seek. It is important to remember that while pain and fear are spreading, there are also people on the ground working to deliver resources. Let’s take our emotional energy and invest it in the people doing the work.
Swati Ramaswamy is a recent graduate from UC Davis and is an aspiring creative writer who loathes speaking in the third person.
Srishti Prabha is the Managing Editor at India Currents and has worked in low-income/affordable housing as an advocate for children, women, and people of color. She is passionate about diversifying spaces, preserving culture, and removing barriers to equity.