The state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) received torrential rainfall in September 2014 that triggered flooding and landslides in several areas. Constant rains and landslides wreaked havoc and brought life to a standstill in the state, claiming more than 150 lives, inundating hundreds of villages and leaving millions stranded.
NGO: Sewa Bharti Jammu and Kashmir
IDRF partner since: 2011
Focus Area: Jammu and Kashmir Floods 2014
Location: Jammu and Kashmir
Project Title: Distribution of relief material, relief checks and construction material to repair and reconstruct damaged houses
Details: IDRF partnered with NGO Sewa Bharti Jammu and Kashmir to implement a disaster response project for the affected communities, irrespective of caste or religion. The IDRF funded disaster response project for affected communities included both short and long‐term relief measures. Along with the distribution of food and pherans (traditional woolen gowns)—to keep people warm through the winters, Sewa Bharti also distributed mobile stalls and goods, such as kangris (fire pots). In addition to supplies, relief to flood victims for the repair and construction of their damaged houses was provided both in the form of relief checks and construction materials. IDRF realized that self-reliance was the only way to somewhat stabilize the lives of the affected people. So in this regard, we sent financial grants to distribute mobile stalls including the goods for selling, so that the affected people could start earning their livelihood and bring their lives back on track.
Mobile stalls with goods and Pherans (traditional woolen gowns) given to flood victims
Check distribution to the flood victims
Distribution of traditional woolen gown (pherans) to the victims
Heavy rains caused by monsoon in November – December of 2015 resulted in floods along the Coromandel Coastal region of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The city of Chennai was worst hit and the low-lying parts were soon inundated and several buildings collapsed as a result of heavy rains. In the Chennai region alone more than 500 people died and thousands displaced from their homes.
Hundreds of acres of agricultural land was ruined by flood waters in several districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. IDRF launched the fundraising to provide relief and rehabilitation through two highly reputable partner-NGOs: Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS).
NGO: Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS)
IDRF partner since: 1996
Focus Area: Rural Development Society
Location: Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu
Project Title: Distribution of relief kits to victims, Reconstruction of damaged houses
Details: SVRDS focused on distributing relief kits to those villages around Chennai that did not receive Government aid in time. The relief kits were distributed to about 2000 families and consisted of a steel container filled with kitchen utensils, towel, clothing (saris and dhotis) for the whole family, mats, and groceries (like rice, oil, wheat, sooji, pulses), washing powder & medicine kits, etc. With IDRF’s support, reconstruction of severely damaged houses of very poor families was done, in order to bring about normalcy in flood victims’ lives. Seven houses with built-up areas of 270 square feet were constructed to resettle the families whose houses were damaged beyond repair.
Distribution of Relief Kits to Flood Victims
Houses repaired/reconstructed for the flood victims in Tamil Nadu
NGO: Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS)
Partner Since: 2002
IDRF funds to Yogoda Satsanga Society helped 8,075 families in five districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Many of the families that were helped were very poor and socially deprived and had not received any form of help from other relief agencies. YSS devotees and members distributed relief kits to these people that comprised of solar re-chargeable LED lamps, bedsheets, and mats.
Relief Kits being distributed to Flood Victims
Please click on the link to learn more about Yogoda Satsanga Society’s various programs.
A massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter scale struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing thousands and rendering hundreds of thousands homeless with entire villages flattened across the country. A series of aftershock began immediately and triggered more destruction by avalanches and landslides. Within a few days, on May 12, another major aftershock of magnitude 7.3 Richter scale caused more destruction and the number of dead rose to 9,000 and injured to 22,000.
IDRF promptly launched its special fundraising campaign and funds started pouring in. Due to the benevolence of several individual supporters and organizations, IDRF was able to send funds through longtime partner-NGO Manav Seva Sansthan to provide immediate relief to the victims. IDRF also extended help to Public Health Concern Trust, based in Nepal, to set up the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Kirtipur Hospital to deal with the overwhelming demands of surgery for the victims who had suffered serious injuries as a result of the earthquakes.
NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan “SEVA”
IDRF partner since: 2013
Focus Area: Nepal Earthquake 2015
Location: Nepal
Project Title: ICU setup at Kirtipur Hospital,Distribution of relief kits to victims
Details: IDRF funds enabled Manav Seva Sansthan, based in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, to procure and distribute two types of relief-kits to 160 families in Gorkha district of Nepal: the ‘Non-food-relief items kit’, consisted of woolen blankets, clothes for the whole family and kitchen utensils. The other kit was the ‘Shelter and Hygiene kit’, which consisted of tarpaulin cloth, nylon rope needed for setting up tent and hygiene supplies like: soaps, undergarments, towel, comb, toothpaste and tooth brushes, etc
NGO: Public Health Concern Trust-NEPAL
NGO: Public Health Concern Trust-NEPAL
Partner Since: 2012
Right after the disastrous earthquake in Nepal, IDRF supporters and donors, wholeheartedly helped Kathmandu Model and Kirtipur Hospitals to serve more than 1,000 patients and 220 through surgical interventions. IDRF sent grants to establish and upgrade ICU facility and post-operative room at Kirtipur Hospital.
With IDRF and other organizations’ help, Public Health Concern Trust-Nepal was able to provide free medical and surgical care and hospital stay to the earthquake victims. Since most of the patients have lost their homes and belongings in the disaster, meals and a place to stay were also provided to their caretakers.
ICU at Kirtipur Hospital
Please click on the link below to know more about Public Health Concern Trust, Nepal. http://phectnepal.org/
On February 3, 2016, an avalanche hit an Indian military base in Siachen Glacier region in Jammu and Kashmir, the inhospitable terrain at heights of 19,000 feet above sea level. Ten Indian Army soldiers were buried under deep snow and lost their lives. IDRF extended a helping hand to the new partner-NGO Youth for Sava, in order to send economic relief to the families of the dead soldiers in Karnataka.
NGO: Youth for Seva
IDRF partner since: 2016
Focus Area: Youth for Seva
Location: Karnataka
Project Title: Financial help to bereaved families of dead soldiers
Details: Youth for Seva Youth for Seva was founded in 2007, as a nation-wide volunteering movement that inspires youth in India to volunteer and connects them to meaningful opportunities to serve the community. This organization aims to create positive change agents in the society, through the culture of volunteerism. A group of compassionate IDRF-volunteers, based in the United States, succeeded in raising handsome amount of funds in order to provided financial help to the bereaved families of the ten dead soldiers. IDRF joined hands with Youth for Seva, a pan-India volunteering movement, by extending help to these families who are not very economically well-off and have lost their major breadwinners.
On March 25th 2017, a massive storm, wreaked havoc in Malda, West Bengal. Hundreds of lives in nine villages were devastated in just 22 minutes and killed people and innumerable livestock. The storm damaged/destroyed several houses, crops and innumerable livestock. This has been financially devastating for the poor rural people. IDRF and partner-NGO Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS) joined hands to help the victims of this storm.
West Bengal Freak Storm- 2017
IDRF partner since: 2011
Focus Area: Economic Rural Development Society
Location: West Bengal
Project Title: Construction of new houses and repairs of damaged houses & livelihood provisions
Details: The Freak storm unroofed and damaged 69 houses and the inhabitants were compelled to stay at others people’s houses or take shelter under trees. IDRF and ERDS joined hands to assist the victims and make them self-reliant once again. IDRF immediately sent two grants aggregating towards reconstruction of 31 fully damaged houses and repairs of 38 of partially damaged houses and for providing new livestock (one cow, four goats or four pigs) to 69 families in order to help them get back on their feet.
Reconstruction of house for Beneficiary- Ashalata Gosh of Majhra village in Malda District
Reconstruction of House for Beneficiary- Maino Mardi in Badnagara village, Malda District
Due to heavy monsoon rains, the state of Kerala in India, experienced devastating floods during the summers of 2018. Scores of people were killed and thousands rendered homeless. A red alert was announced in the state and troops deployed to carry out search and rescue missions. Hundreds of relief camps were opened to accommodate the victims. IDRF promptly launched the disaster relief/rehabilitation programs through its reputable partner-NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan and decided to send 100% of the donations received for flood victims.
NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan
IDRF partner since: 2018
Focus Area: Relief and Rehabilitation of affected families
Location: Kerala
Project Title: Kerala Floods 2018 and 2019
Details: IDRF worked closely with the state government, who selected the beneficiaries to receive help from IDRF, so as to maximize the number of victims helped. IDRF send funds to Manav Seva Sansthan to distributed 100 kitchen kits and appliances to severely affected families in Pozhuthana, in Wayanad district, that helped set up their kitchens over again. Each Kitchen kits consisted of a gas stove, mixer grinder, pressure cooker, dinner set, frying pan set, emergency LED light and bucket/ mug/spoon/knife/thali, etc. IDRF also started programs to rehabilitate the flood victims whose only means of livelihood is agriculture and animal husbandry. Several poor families in Pozhuthana Gram Panchayat lost all their livestock which were their only means of sustenance. In order to rebuild the lives of these victims, IDRF gifted 18 cows to some families to start up again. IDRF is also supporting the repairs and rebuilding of 10 houses belonging to extremely poor families in Wayanad district. Cabinet Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally, Government of Kerala, laid the foundation stone of the housing project (Snehaveedu) in Wayanad. IDRF Fundraiser for Kerala Flood Victims: IDRF held a fundraiser at Tatva Indian Cuisine in Herndon, Virginia, on August 25, 2018 to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims. Several fundraisers were created on social media: Facebook by IDRF supporters and volunteers to raise funds for providing relief and rehabilitation for the severely affected flood victims.
Kitchen Kits and appliances were distributed to 100 severely affected families in Wayanad District
Livestock distribution to flood victims at a community event in Wayanad
Flood-affected families given cows to start up their livelihood once again
Foundation stone laid for IDRF-supported rebuilding of houses for extremely poor families
Cabinet Minister of Govt. Of Kerala inaugurates IDRF supported repairs and rebuilding of damaged houses
IDRF Fundraiser for Kerala Flood Victims:
IDRF held a fundraiser at Tatva Indian Cuisine in Herndon, Virginia, on August 25, 2018 to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.
Several fundraisers were created on social media: Facebook by IDRF supporters and volunteers to raise funds for providing relief and rehabilitation for the severely affected flood victims.———————
IDRF Fundraiser at Tatva Indian Cuisine at Herndon, Virginia
Tens of millions of people in India’s northern state of Bihar were badly affected by the storms and floods caused by heavy monsoon rains. Thousands of villages were flooded and people rendered homeless. Several people lost their lives, thousands of animals swept away and croplands submerged due to floodwaters. IDRF promptly launched the disaster relief and rehabilitation programs through its reputable partner-NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan (MSS) and decided to send 100% of the donations received for flood victims.
NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan
Focus Area: Manav Seva Sansthan
Location: Bihar
Project Title: Bihar Floods 2019
Details: IDRF’s partner-NGO Manav Seva Sansthan has past experience and extensive knowledge of the Madhubani district, where several villages faced the worst impacts. MSS targeted three blocks of the district that were severely affected due to heavier rains and remote locations in the foothills of the Himalayas. Even though the local government agencies sent help, there were several remote areas where it took longer for their teams to get to the victims. With the help of generous donors, IDRF was able to raise funds and provide Relief Kits to 150 poor families. These Relief Kits included: personal hygiene items, candles, non-perishable food items like lentils, flour, rice, oil, spices, etc.
NGO team packing 150 Relief Kits for flood victims
Distribution of Relief Kits to 150 poor families
People taking the Relief Kits back to their villages
Due to stagnant waters for several weeks, the water-bodies in the area got contaminated and people were using that water to drink and cook, thus, resulting in skin and gastrointestinal diseases. Access to health centers was disrupted due to damage to roads and the situation was particularly serious for children and pregnant women. In order to provide urgent health-care services, IDRF supported five Mobile Health Camps in the worst affected areas. Free medical checkups and distribution of medicines were done for the poor flood victims. In addition, 75 hand pumps were repaired and the water supply was restored in them for use by the local people. These low-depth hand pumps were also chlorinated to provide water for drinking and other household uses.
Free checkups and medicines for poor flood victims
IDRF also started a program to rehabilitate 150 families in Madhubani district whose only means of livelihood is small scale agriculture. These families were provided high-quality seeds of high yielding crops like wheat and potatoes, etc. to start over again.
In addition, the following items were also provided to 150 poor families who have lost all their belongings due to the floods:
Items
Quantity Per Households
1
Quilts(for winter use)
02
2
Water Filter(manuakky operated)
1
3
Emergency Lights(solar-powdered)
1
4
Mosquito Nets
02
Quilts, water filters, solar emergency lights, and mosquito nets, etc. for 150 flood-affected families
Rehabilitation and livelihood support provided to 150 poor households
IDRF joins hands with the Indian-American Organisations and Community of DC Metro Area to help needy families during the COVID-19 Pandemic
September 2020
Grab & Go event to distribute 9,000 lbs of fresh produce and non-perishable groceries to more than 260 families by IDRF in partnership with Rajasthali DC, Germantown HELP, MCPS, and Journey’s Crossing Church on September 19, 2020, at Germantown, Maryland.
August 2020
Grab & Go event to distribute 587 bags of fresh groceries by IDRF in partnership with DC Dream Center, Blessings of Hope, and Breadcoin at Pennsylvania Baptist Church in Washington DC on August 31, 2020.
Grab & Go event to distribute fresh groceries to 280 families by IDRF in partnership with Rajasthali Association of Washington DC, Germantown HELP, MCPS, and Neelsville Presbyterian Church was organized in Germantown, MD on Saturday, August 15th.
Montgomery County Council, Maryland’s VP-Tom Hucker awarded citations to IDRF and partners on India’s 74th Independence Day for their commendable relief work done to serve the multi-cultural and diverse communities in the DC Metro area during these challenging times.
Grab & Go event to distribute 500 bags of fresh groceries by IDRF in partnership with DC Dream Center, Blessings of Hope and Breadcoin at Pennsylvania Baptist Church in Washington DC on August 3.
July 2020
Grab & Go event to distribute 250 free food bags by IDRF and Rajasthali Association in partnership with Germantown HELP and MCPS on July 18 at Journey’s Crossing Church, Germantown.
Grab & Go event to distribute groceries to 580 families by IDRF and ADG in conjunction and support from other partners on July 11 at Astha Adult care center, Silver Spring, MD.
June 2020
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 750 struggling families of Montgomery County, Maryland on June 14, 2020, at the Mangal Mandir, Silver Spring, MD
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 600 struggling families of Montgomery County on June 13, 2020, at Montgomery College, Germantown, MD
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 600 struggling families of Montgomery County, Maryland
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 1260 struggling families of Montgomery County, Maryland on May 23, 2020, at the Aastha Adult Medical Care, Silver Spring, MD
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 600 struggling families of Fairfax County, Virginia on June 6, 2020, at the Durga Temple, 8400 Durga Pl, Fairfax Station, VA
May 2020
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 1140 struggling families of Montgomery County, Maryland on May 30, 2020, at the Aastha Adult Medical Care, Silver Spring, MD
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 1140 struggling families of Montgomery County, Maryland on May 23, 2020, at the Aastha Adult Medical Care, Silver Spring, MD
“Grab and Go Food Drive” to provide relief to 600 struggling families of Prince George’s County, Maryland on May 9, 2020, at the Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Lanham, MD
Please HELP the Poor get Food during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Millions of poor daily-wage earners in India have lost their livelihood and are on the verge of starvation…With India under complete lockdown to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, poor daily-wage earning migrant laborers have returned to their homes. IDRF is raising funds to help these extremely poor and unemployed by providing RELIEF KITS* with FOOD and ESSENTIALS to SAVE their FAMILIES FROM STARVATION.
Details: IDRF has sent $127,000 to provide relief to the needy especially the poor migrant workers in Gorakhpur district (UP), Malda district (West Bengal), Ganjam and other districts (Odisha), Kutch district (Gujarat), Osmanabad district (Maharashtra), Madhubani district (Bihar), Kankhal district (Uttarakhand) and Ajmer district (Rajasthan). IDRF has provided more than 6,510 Relief Kits (dry food and hygiene items) to struggling migrant worker families, medicines, personal protection kits, and food to thousands of medical personnel, patients, family members, and hospital staff. In addition, thousands of destitute migrant workers were also provided snacks, water-bottles, facemasks, and sanitizers at the checkpoints on their journey back home.
The spread and scale are enormous and we are expanding our relief campaign to other states of India as well to serve thousands more. Please don’t hesitate as time is not on our side.
HURRY and Make a tax-deductible donation today. Your donation of $1,000 will help 65 families for 15 days
The Federal Coronavirus Relief Bill grants taxpayers an above-the-line deduction for up to $300 (Standard Deduction) in charitable donations starting in 2020.
To combat this dire situation, IDRF is sending 100% of the donations received without keeping any administrative costs.IDRF is providing food and essentials to the needy regardless of religion, caste or creed through our trusted and long-time partners: Economic Rural Development Society in West Bengal, Manav Seva Sansthan “SEVA” in Uttar Pradesh, Samerth Charitable Trust in Gujarat, Jnana Prabodhini in Maharashtra, Youth for Social Development and Sathya Sai Trust in Odisha, Gram Vikas Parishad in Bihar, Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram in Uttarakhand and Centre for Advocacy and Research in Rajasthan.
* RELIEF KITS include cooking oil, flour, lentils, sugar, spices, soya chunks, potatoes, tea packets, biscuits, soap, anti-septic liquid, and sanitary napkins, etc.
IDRF joins hands with the Indian-American Organisations and Community of DC Metro Area to help needy families during the COVID-19 PandemicRead More..
Shopping Basket
Ms. Shubhra Garg (Masters in Mathematics; MBA), USA
Secretary
Member since 2022
Shubhra Garg retired from the World Bank in 2015 as Chief Administrative Officer, having served for over 25 year in a variety of senior management and technical positions in the areas of strategy, leadership, budget, performance management, finance, and administration. She has also served as treasurer and secretary on the Board of another NGO. Shubhra did her Master in Mathematics from Delhi University and an M.B.A from University of Maryland.
Mr. Adesh Jain (Masters, B.Tech), USA
Member since 2022
Adesh is a seasoned, hands-on leader with over 30 years of progressive experience in leading an information technology services business. He is currently responsible for Belcan’s Federal Civilian business and Vice President and General Manager. He is passionate about building trusting customer relationships, and business management with sharp focus on growth. Adesh has a Masters degree from University of Maryland at College park and Bachelors from Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur, India. Adesh enjoys reading business books, running, badminton and volunteering in various organizations including IDRF, Capital IIT and Girls Scouts. He lives in Herndon, VA with his wife and two kids.
Dr. Prem Garg (PhD, Engineering-Economic Systems), USA
Treasurer
Member since August 2014
Dr. Prem Garg retired from the World Bank in 2007 after serving as the Director for the Quality Assurance Group and in a variety of operational and executive positions for 35 years. He is recognized as a leader in providing innovative approaches to development programs. Dr. Garg received his doctorate in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University.
Rajeev has over 20 years’ experience in starting and scaling small business for success and impact. He’s been involved with IDRF as a volunteer, adviser, Board member and now as their Executive Director. His focus is making IDRF more efficient and impactful in its mission to serve the underprivileged. He holds a B.Tech. from IIT Delhi and an MBA from University of Maryland.
Donor Spotlight
Mr. Inder Sud, a former World Bank Director and President of the 1818 Society (2015-21), is
a highly respected member of the Indian-American community in the Washington DC Metro Area. Over the years he and his wife Peggy have supported several projects in India through IDRF. In 2022, they supported the
renovation of a hostel mess at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar, Punjab with the help of the Udhampur Rotary Eye & General Welfare Foundation.
Dr. G. R. Verma (Ph.D. Mathematics), USA
Member since 2011
Dr. Verma is among IDRF’s top donors. He visits India every year, devoting his resources to rural women’s education, self-empowerment and social reforms. IDRF benefits tremendously from his extensive experience in development. He guides NGOs in India to create scalable projects that can accelerate social development.
Bharathi Mallampati (MS, Engineering), USA
Member since June 2022
Bharathi came to the USA for her MS in 1991 and pursued her career with Bell Communications Research. She was involved in IDRF from 1995 and later became the New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia chapters’ coordinator. Moving back to India for family, she started a small-scale industry for a few years and worked as an Associate Professor at CVR Engineering College. She participated in different projects under Sewa Bharati and was the joint secretary for Vaidehi Ashram, a home for destitute girls. She later started a new project for adolescent girls from poor neighborhoods called Vaidehi Kishori Vikas Yojana. Since 2015, moving back to the USA, she has taken an advisory role in projects in India and actively works with IDRF to raise funds.
Ms. Nisha Narayanan (Masters in Economics), USA
Member since 2021
Ms. Narayanan is a risk and compliance professional with over 15 years of experience in anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and political and economic risk. She became interested in sustainable development while working at the World Bank and through a prior project on corporate citizenship in India. She brings to IDRF a passion for empowering marginalized communities with the tools to improve their lives through strong local partnerships that focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance goals. She received an M.A. in Economics from George Mason University and a B.A. in International Relations from William and Mary.
Mr. Mohinder Gulati, (MBA-Finance, Masters in Physics), USA
Member since 2017
Mr. Gulati retired from the World Bank in 2015 after having served as Advisor (Energy) at the World Bank and as Chief Operating Officer of United Nations Sustainable Energy for All. He has also worked in several executive positions in India in a financial intermediary, commercial banking, investment banking, and armed forces. A post-graduate in Physics and Management from Delhi University and Management training at Harvard Business School, he brings 40 years of development experience to the Board.
Dr Vinod Prakash (PhD, Economics),USA
President
Member since 1988
Dr. Vinod Prakash is a retired World Bank economist and the founder of IDRF. He has been working pro bono since 1988 to help alleviate poverty and enable sustainable development in India. He provides strategic oversight to leverage maximum benefits from donor dollars and shapes programs so they address the interlocking needs of the less privileged.
Dr. Suresh C. Gupta (M.D.), USA
Member since 2020
Dr. Gupta is a highly respected physician who has been honored by the state of Maryland for his work as chair of the Maryland Board of Physicians. He has been elected as the first Indian-American president of Prince George’s Medical Society, Prince George’s Hospital Center, President of Hindu Temple, and President and Chairman of Durga Temple. He is actively involved in the cultural-philanthropic activities of the Indian-American community and several religious, health-related activities at the county and state level. Dr. Gupta has held leadership positions with several Indian-American organizations in the area.
