As William Clay Ford Jr. Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company puts it, “Creating a strong business and building a better world are not conflicting goals – they are both essential ingredients for long-term success”. Indeed true, for alleviation of suffering from the world also rests upon responsible corporates. Years of helping people in distress has taught us here at Red Cross that it is possible to spread the umbrella of help only when adequate funds trickle in.

IRCS helping victims in Uttarakhand

We are grateful to our corporate partners especially Vodafone Foundation, which was among the first business houses that lent us a helping hand by funding our relief initiatives following the Uttarakhand flash floods in June 2013, that saw massive flooding of four districts of the Uttarakhand state caused by a sudden cloud burst and subsequent continuous rain with mudflows, that claimed hundreds of lives and caused extensive loss of livestock and property. It was a near impossible task to reach out to everyone who had suffered losses. However, the Indian Red Cross Society was there to wipe as many tears as possible.

Indian Red Cross Society activated the First Medical Responders (who are volunteers from among the communities and are trained by the Red Cross as part of the Community based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme to aid at such times) who were the first to reach the victims. They administered First Aid, and supported the Indian Red Cross National disaster Relief team and National Disaster WatSan response team members deployed by the National Headquarters, to provide clean drinking water through the several Red Cross Water Purification units, erect tents for shelter, distribute non- food relief supplies, provide psychosocial support as well as spread awareness about health and hygiene. The IRCS ,NHQ in its part provided Non food relief items like family packs, tents etc. to the state Red Cross branch valued at approximately 3.5 crores.

Red Cross erected Tents for shelter to the homeless

Relief materials from Vodafone being distributed

The Indian Red Cross has been supported to procure relief items by several individuals and corporate groups. Vodafone Foundation was among the first corporates to offer help. Vodafone Foundation- India donated an amount of INR 85 lacs towards the Indian Red Cross Uttarakhand Relief operation. The objective was to procure and distribute 2200 family packs which would help 11000 people with house hold items like a kitchen set, bucket, tarpaulin, clothes etc. as immediate relief. The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), distributed the family packs among the flood victims in Uttarakashi, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag districts which were severely affected.

The Vodafone-IRCS partnership has enabled 2200 flash floods affected families to restore their lives and maintain the dignity of their families during the disaster. This contribution by Vodafone sets an example as to how responsible businesses can reach out to those in distress after disasters wreak havoc in their lives. It also paves the way and creates opportunity for more disaster mitigation activities to be programmed for communities at risk in the future.

Water being supplied to the affected community by IRCS volunteers

In the words of Anita Roddick, Founder, Body Shop, “The business of business should not be about money. It should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not private greed” The responsibility now is to prepare communities for contingencies, for unforeseen natural phenomena, for, that is the only way to reduce losses, whether of lives or livelihoods. The Indian Red Cross Society looks forward to more such encouraging partnerships that can be designed to teach communities residing in high risk vulnerability zones, to be better prepared for prompt response and action in an eventual unanticipated disaster.