Hopefully, the city’s charity is reaching the right people

NDRF personnel conducting search and rescue operations at the site of a landslide at Kumbharwadi village in Chiplun district of Maharashtra. Pic/PTI

Mumbai is giving from its big heart and has loosened its purse strings for people affected by the recent floods. We see people who have lost everything in the torrential rain. Help is going out to people in places like Chiplun/Ratnagiri. A number of groups have mushroomed, collecting relief material from different areas in the city. This can be grain and pulses, clothes, home linen, vessels, blankets, sanitary napkins, towels… all the essentials.

Certain volunteers are leading the effort, so that there is structure. Those who wanted to contribute but did not have an avenue, have thankfully found one. With social media, messages and awareness about relief efforts is both easy and widespread.

Several political parties or youth organisations aligned with a certain party are also part of the effort. This time, because we are in the midst of an outbreak, relief material also includes santisers, for the flood affected.

We must ensure that all the help does reach those who need it. We see a lot of relief for different and well-deserved reasons. The collections take place after disasters and some of them may be absolutely spot on and very genuine.

Rotten eggs though spoil the picture, as if one has a question mark or doubt about help actually reaching the correct people, or intended destinations, then one will hold back the next time. It also sullies the name of those doing honest good work.

So, credibility of the collecting organisation is important. Honesty and clarity about who specifically is this relief going to and how it will be delivered, including a timeline as to when it will reach, should also be explained to the people, who wish to donate. Let those who fuel these efforts leave no place for doubt or skepticism about motives or methodology.