Individuals, NGOs, companies pour in to volunteer for govt initiative

NEW DELHI: Over a lakh individuals and around 4,500 corporates/ non-government organisations (NGOs) have so far offered their services as part of the government’s Self4Society initiative to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, according to officials aware of the matter.

They are being assigned works like supply chain management, providing food to migrant labourers, economic weaker sections, and producing IT-based solutions etc with the help of various government agencies like the National Disaster Management Authority and State Disaster Management Authorities.

Hundreds of individuals have donated over 5.51 lakh items like digital infrared thermometers, thermal scanners, surgical gloves, protective coveralls, masks, hand sanitizers, face shields etc as part of the initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a Self4Society portal and app in October 2018 with a focus to invite electronics and IT companies to organise initiatives for social welfare. It has now been expanded to include all kinds of corporates and NGOs.

Abhishek Singh, the CEO of MyGov.in that manages Self4Society, said the NDMA wanted volunteers throughout the country. “We have volunteers in several categories now like community services, medical field, production of PPE etc. Their demand aggregation is happening on the portal and this data is accessible to the states, which... assign the volunteers to work in required areas based on their expertise.”

The corporates are also diverting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to help deal with the pandemic.