April 2, 2020

Walter Nandalike
Founder
Daijiworld Group of Media

Dear readers,

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire world to a standstill. Every individual, rich or poor, young or old, educated or uneducated, has bowed down to the unexpected disease called 'COVID-19' or 'Coronavirus disease-2019'. We have no choice but to face this pandemic boldly and unitedly, and try our best to avoid getting infected by this disease, and come out from this difficult time without surrendering to it.

We have two immediate concerns in front of us. The first one is to take care of and pray for those who are infected, and guard ourselves from coming in contact with suspects, protect ourselves and stay safe. Secondly, due to the lockdown, a number of people have been rendered helpless, caught in a situation where they are desperately in need of basic necessities like food and medicine, but unable to access them. In some places, aged people are living without any support; there are home-alone individuals who are sick, with no one around to support them during this difficult time; and students or working men and women who depend on eateries or online food delivery apps, which have also suspended services.

There may be scores of migrant workers without access to essential supplies or a decent meal. In some places, there may be people who are well-to-do, but their age or inability to move around would be preventing them from procuring daily essentials or medicines. Over the last week, we have been flooded with queries and requests. Our teams have tried their best to reach out to a few people but now we have realised that we need a movement of sorts to help the needy people.

The administration of Mangaluru headed by the deputy commissioner and the commissioner of police, under the guidance of district in-charge minister, MP, MLAs and MLCs, is putting in its best efforts. But they cannot reach out to everyone, and no one can blame them.

Looking at the current crisis, daijiworld.com and Daijiworld 24x7 TV channel are jointly launching "Naavu Nimmondige' or 'We are With You' initiative to reach out to such needy people.

We need your support in this. We will not collect cash or call for any monetary help, but you can do much more than that:

1. If you know someone who is suffering and needs urgent help for ration, medicine or any kind of assistance during this lockdown, please call/message/WhatsApp/voice message to us. Our mission is to connect them to the right person, either a volunteer, people's representative, administration or an NGO. We assure you that we will not rest until we reach out to the needy individual. (Contact us: 0091- 8217466588)

2. If you are an NGO, volunteer or officially allowed to help the needy (that is, if you have permission from the administration), kindly share your number with us with your name, and mention the kind of help you can provide. We will connect you to the needy people. Message or call us on the helpline number given here. (Contact us: 0091-9481733247)

Our mission is to act as messengers, as a connecting bridge between the needy and the people who are willing to help.

(Note: For those who are unable to afford, we will do our best to arrange volunteers or an NGO who will provide rice and vegetables or medicines free of cost, as per one's daily needs. Those who can afford, kindly pay for your medicines and food. Nevertheless, volunteers will reach out to you for free, but you will need to pay the volunteer/NGO for things you order or buy).

Dear NRI friends: You have been the backbone of the Indian economy for years. This is not a favourable time for you, but your contribution will be remembered and respected. If you know a volunteer or an NGO who could help in these difficult times, do ask them to contact us. Importantly, do not feel isolated due to coronavirus. If your loved ones in your hometown are suffering, kindly do not hesitate to message us, and we will reach out to them.

We request all our Daijiworld.com readers and Daijiworld 24x7 viewers to support us in our initiative. All we want is to lend a helping hand to the needy.

Dear readers, for the last 20 years you have helped us reach out to over 500 needy families, generating financial support to the tune of Rs 21 crore. But the real challenge is now. We do not need support in the form of money, but we do need your support in reaching out to the needy emotionally and physically.

Let us all be united in this fight to defeat corona.

We are with you, please be with us.

Our contacts:

If you are an NGO, a volunteer or willing to reach out to needy - 0091-9481733247
If you are a needy - 0091- 8217466588