How does the Sakal Relief Fund help people affected by Natural Disasters

The world is a very unpredictable place where a multitude of chaos resides within this ever-changing, yet ever-constant singularity. The occurrence of natural disasters is something that cannot be controlled through intervention, but the impact of the disaster can be minimized through the imposition of proper mitigation steps. 

There are many governmental and non-governmental institutions that provide relief to people who have suffered losses from natural disasters. This post-disaster protocol is equally important as the mitigation process and it is our responsibility to help the people in need and protect the surrounding flora and fauna. 

Sakal Relief Fund – Natural Disaster Management NGO 

The Sakal Relief Fund is one of India’s biggest initiatives that look to provide relief to the people who have suffered the perils of a natural disaster. With some of India’s most elite as a part of this organization, for example, Mr Pawar is a part of the board of trustees, the organization has been helping those in need since the Bengal floods that happened in 1942. 

The entire initiative of natural disaster management is a very philanthropic process and the Sakal Relief Fund has been collecting funds to help the casualties of natural disasters as well as scale up its mitigation abilities so as to reduce the impact of any future calamities. Sakal Relief Fund organizes many events, camps, conferences and mock drills throughout the year to spread awareness about various natural disasters. 

The funds raised through these various events aid in a capacity building which is the most important aspect of pre-disaster mitigation. The reduced impact of the natural disaster not only saves many lives but also reduces the economical and ecological loss that occurs due to a natural disaster.  

How Does The Sakal Relief Fund Help People Affected By Natural Disasters?

The Sakal Relief Fund is one of India’s oldest operating institutions that is involved in natural disaster management. The Organization’s vision is to give rise to a safe and resilient India that is intrinsically capable of managing its problems. The creation of the organization took place keeping a mission in mind which is to provide an effective and efficient response, relief and support to the victims of natural disasters. The transparency and professionalism with which this institution operates have over the last 7 decades made India a more capable unit in terms of infrastructure and ability to deal with natural disasters. 

Some of the top initiatives taken up by the Sakal Relief Fund have been mentioned below:

• De-silting villages in Maharashtra – Around 700 villages throughout the state were de-silted to date. This has helped the villages in attaining their own source of water. A total donation of 11 crores was collected out of which only about 1.5 crores have been utilized to date. The project has benefitted more than 35 lakh villagers within the state as the project still continues to help many more.

• Kashmir Flood in the year 2014 was a massive disaster affecting many regions within the state due to its torrential rainfall. A generous donation amounting to almost 40 lakh rupees was collected which enabled proper healthcare and relief for the people affected. 

• The Bihar floods in 2008 were another major calamity that affected the local populace. An approximate 3.3 million people in their nearly 1900 villages were victims of this monstrosity. The Sakal Relief Fund managed to donate a handsome amount of 64 lakh rupees which impacted almost 25 lakh people. 

Much like these above-mentioned initiatives, there are many more in which the Sakal Relief Fund has been of great help. To name a few:

• Maharashtra Floods in 2005.
• The Andaman Tsunami in 2004.
• The Gujarat Earthquake in 2001.
• The Andhra Cyclonic Storm in 1977
• The Marathwada Earthquake in 1993

The above-mentioned are all previously taken initiatives but Sakal Relief Fund has many more that are currently in operation that involves capacity building and relief provision for existing disaster victims. Some of the ongoing programs are:

• The biggest and currently most important ongoing program in the combat covid program has been providing relief and funds for those in need of healthcare and medicines for the last two years. Along with healthcare provisions, the fund has also been providing masks and sanitisers amongst the poor and within slum regions of urban cities. 

• The Sangli flood that took place in 2019 due to excessive rainfall caused a great deal of damage within the village of Sangli and the city of Kolhapur. Measure to rehabilitate the victims is still in progress as a total donation of around 1 crore has already been collected.

• The de-silting project that began in 2013 in Maharashtra still continues today as there is much left to do within this state itself.

• The Kerala flood in 2018 is another natural disaster that the Sakal Relief Fund has taken initiative toward and is still collecting and providing quick relief to victims. 

In a nutshell, the Sakal Relief Fund along with its many programs and initiatives has been an active member in helping the ones in need in this country. The institution has been active for more than 7 decades and is one of the most prompt responders during any natural disaster event due to its credibility and approach. The donations made and the volunteers participating in these initiatives are prime examples of India’s good citizens as their philanthropy pushes the country towards a brighter future.