Management School academic raises funds for migrant workers in India
Dr Supriya Garikipati, Development Economist at the Management School, is utilising her extensive network of research and impact partners to support daily wage migrants affected by the lockdown in India.
In order to contain COVID-19, India recently imposed a strict lockdown at short notice. This left millions of workers with no way of returning home and unable to afford to live in the cities they found themselves stranded in. Many have tried to walk hundreds of miles to reach their villages, resulting in several deaths and misery.
Although the government has now started to assist migrants, when they do return home they face the grim prospect of starvation as many won’t receive wages from their employers.
Using connections from numerous research projects in India, Dr Garikipati has coordinated food distribution in three locations, with two more soon to follow. She is also working with several small, grassroots organisations to ensure quick action in assisting people that need it most.
Dr Garikipati is appealing for funds to help those that are impacted by this disaster and said, “Please donate if you can. The more money we raise, the more migrants we can reach. If we act fast, we may be able to avert a terrible human tragedy.”
Donations will to be used to fund emergency rations, designed to sustain a family for 2-3 weeks. These will consist of cooked food, durable high nutrition food items and survival kits. If possible, fundraising efforts will also help to cover the cost of shelter and utilities where necessary. For more information and to donate to the campaign, visit Dr Garikipati’s Just Giving page
