A Nationwide COVID Relief Effort
India is witnessing a wave of humanity. Thousands of volunteers have been providing relief on ground zero for over a year. Let’s beat the pandemic wave. Together. Stronger.
When the pandemic hit the country in 2020, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar pledged that the Art of Living would do everything it could to save each life. This galvanized the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values to focus on mental health and relief distribution in the first wave of the pandemic. The #IStandWithHumanity initiative was launched in April 2020 to provide meals and relief materials to migrant laborers. The second wave has wreaked devastation, and the #IAHVCovidCare was implemented to provide critical care and emergency medical services. Our efforts continue stronger than ever. Let’s beat the pandemic wave. Together. Stronger.
Impact
The Art of Living and the IAHV salute the zeal of its volunteers. The numbers below are a glimpse of the work since the pandemic broke out last year.
Oxygen concentrators provided6,705
Oxygen cylinders provided711
Masks distributed2 million
Ventilators provided100
Doctors on call500
Doctor consultations56,000
Meditation & anxiety relief beneficiaries250,000
Quarantined people provided with food48,080
People helped with medicines, bed & oxygen support85,660
Ayurveda medicines supplied8,481
Free oxygen refilling beneficiaries10,000
Covid care centers9
Beds for covid care centers2,762
Meals distributed80 million
Provided safety gear & medical equipment worth20.275 crore
#iStandWithHumanity
India’s daily wage earners and their families have been the worst hit by the lockdown. We are extending our support to this campaign and are joined by local & state governments, various organizations, corporate and NGOs. We invite you to join in.
80 million meals distributed in 2020
During the first wave of Covid-19 when the country went under a stringent 21-day period lockdown, daily wage workers were the worst affected.#iStandWithHumanity# initiative provided essential groceries, grains, and ingredients to them for free.
The Art of Living dispatched about 550 tons of food material from its International Center in Bangalore for distribution in various parts of the country with support from Sri Sri Tattva and IAHV.
Inspiration from the community
STORIES
Good quality ration a priority for volunteers
“We volunteers are working relentlessly to ensure that everyone gets ration. We are sending out good quality ration to several places and many are contributing in many ways to support The Art of Living’s initiative.”
Local NGOs supporting the initiative
"So far, we have reached out to 9,000 families and 400 in Faridkot. We have partnered with Seva Bharti and a local NGO is helping us with cooking food. I think when we step out to take care of those in dire need, then nature takes care of us."
Giving not just food, but also hope & assurance
“With a curfew pass, we've been providing a 10-day ration to slums in Chandigarh and Mohali. Many are migrant workers stuck here. More than food, they need assurance that somebody has their back and we are assuring them that."
Humanity prevails even today
“Of course, the situation is charged with anxiety and concern. But I remember once we were distributing food parcels in one area and those families blessed us so much. It is heartening to see that humanity prevails and we will conquer the crisis."
People are eager to volunteer, reach out
"What is the most admirable thing around this time is how several people are stepping out to volunteer. I see Gurudev's vision of uplifting human values coming true in these trying times."
