Ivy League grads join crowdsourcing effort

NEWDELHI: Anil Antony has joined relief operations in flood-hit Kerala, helping those affected by the monsoon fury that has displaced about a million people and killed more than 260.

Anil, son of Congress veteran AK Antony, has arranged food items, drinking water, medical supplies and other relief materials over the last few days for flood-hit people in the state that is grappling from the most devastating deluge in a century.

A graduate of Stanford University, Anil tied up with his Faisal Patel, a Harvard University graduate and Congress treasurer Ahmed Patel’s son, to crowdsource relief item through social media campaigns.

“...the relief operation doesn’t have any political patronage or connection,” said Faisal.

When they decided to join the relief work, their first stop to collect materials was Jammu and Kashmir. “We got tonnes of apples and other materials from people in Kashmir,” said Anil.

The food supplies reached Kerala with logistical help from a number of companies, including GoAir. “We hope to distribute at least 150 to 200 tons of relief materials,” said Faisal. On Saturday, they were in Manantavadi tribal areas in Wayanad district.

Anil said the relief operation was a humbling experience. “I remember that at Chenganoor, one of the worst affected places in Alleppy, there were around 10,000 people in a school building. Almost everyone there had lost someone in the family and heavy financial losses. When we came with help, they said, please help those people first who have lost more than us. Such a show of magnanimity even at the time of such a disaster is a heart-wrenching experience,” said Anil.