As many of you may know, the state of Kerala in India has experienced incessant rainfall this monsoon season, causing chaotic flooding and landslides across all 14 districts of the state within the last week. As a result all 35 dams in Kerala have been opened (something that hasn’t been done since 1984), and more than 25 bridges have collapsed. The loss of agricultural land, roads, and infrastructure alone account to more than 1.5 billion USD.
Unfortunately, as of August 20th, over 300 people have died and 633,010 people are staying in 2,971 relief camps due to flooding. Fisherman and other locals alongside the Army, Air Force, Navy,Coast Guard, and NDRF teams have rescued 38,000 flood-affected people in the last 3 days alone.
It goes without saying that the road to recovery ahead is long and tiresome. Many of those rescued have lost their livelihood, and most do not have a home to go back to when they leave the relief camps. Indigenous communities living in districts like Wayanad will be some of the hardest hit. Food shortage will be a worrying reality. Kerala’s thriving and pivotal tourist business will be set back detrimentally. Stagnant flood water will ultimately lead to numerous diseases that need to be controlled. The state will need to rebuild lost infrastructure promptly. Citing the reported losses and future costs, the Chief Minister of Kerala has requested the Central Government for 19,500 cr/195,000,000,000 INR (roughly 3 billion USD) to assist in the rehabilitation. However, they have only been granted 500 cr/5,000,000,000 INR (roughly 72 million USD). This is nowhere near enough.
I implore everyone with the means to, to PLEASE DONATE! It’s incredibly heartwarming to see that already people all across the world have united to help Kerala during one of it’s darkest hours. A little goes a long way and no donation is too small.
Below is a consolidated list (with links) of online donation options (for both people in India and outside of it); including Government, NGO/Business, and smaller country-specific fundraisers. I have also included information on who will be handling the donation funds, where it will be going to, and the easiest ways to donate from where you are in the world:
Government sponsored fundraising:
The Government of Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF):
The CMDRF is the official fund aiming to provide an emergency assistance release mechanism that will grant ‘immediate relief to families and individuals distressed by calamity, loss of life due to accidents and chronic diseases’ caused by flooding.
Donating inside India: All major Indian cards/banks/net banking is accepted. All donations within India are 100% tax exempt (under s80G(2)(iii) of the Income Tax Act 1961). Receipt provided.
Donating outside of India: Advised to use South Indian Bank (International Cards) or Federal Bank gateways when prompted. Foreign contributions to the fund will be exempt from the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010) Please note that the server is fairly slow and has difficulty processing at times due to high traffic.
Run by: The Government of Kerala (Finance Secretary- transparency accountable under the Right to Information Act 2005)
Sent to: Financial aid direct to beneficiary
Kerala Rescue: Run by the Government of Kerala, keralarescue.in provides a portal to request help, locate, volunteer, or contribute.
Donating Inside India: Please choose ‘To Contribute’ and fill out details from collection. Please also refer to the ‘ District Needs & Collection Center’ as reference for what is required.
Run by: The Government of Kerala (Disaster Management Cell/District Administration)
Sent to: Resource aid direct to beneficiary
NGOs and Business sponsored fundraising:
PayTM: an easy portal to donate money into the CMDRF. All donations up to 1cr (Rs.10,000,000) will be matched by PayTM.
Inside India: Payments can be made through the PayTM app or via desktop.
Run by: PayTM
Sent to: CMDRF
Amazon.in: Immediate relief provided to flood hit residents by donating vital resources to respect NGOs working on the ground.
Donate both inside and outside India: Amazon lets you choose between a list of NGOs and then select items on their wishlist to deliver to the NGO of your choice.
Run by: Amazon India (in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, World Vision, Goonj, and Oxfam India)
Sent to: (NGO of choice) Resource aid direct to beneficiary
Akshaya Patra (NGO): ‘Akshaya Patra has set up a temporary kitchen to prepare and distribute food. As of now, the Foundation is providing an average of 7,000 meals per day costing Rs. 30 per meal.’
Inside India: Residents inside India can use the Zomato app to donate meals, as well as the Akshaya Patra website
Outside India: Donations can be made on the Akshaya Patra website. Receipt provided.
Run by: Akshaya Patra (NGO)
Sent to: Food aid direct to beneficiary
Rapid Response (NGO): Funds raised ‘will be used to distribute 300 relief kits, 300 bed kits and 300 kitchen sets with a total aim of supporting 900 families.’ Kits range from Rs 1000-2000 each. In addition Rapid Response will be providing 120,000 food packets, 30,000 Milk & Biscuits kits and conduct 60 medical camps in the worst affected areas of Kerala (details on website).
Inside India: Use Ketto*, Milaap* [*Crowdfunding portals: 3-6% of donations deducted in addition to card processing/exchange/tax fee] or Rapid Response portal
Outside India: US residents may use Milaap* or Ketto* portals. For all other countries please use the Rapid Response portal.
Run by: Rapid Response (NGO) (Milaap: Asha on behalf of Rapid Response)
Sent to: Resource aid direct to beneficiary
Goonj (NGO): Goonj is collecting urban household materials and food packets to transport to flood stricken areas. Monetary contributions are used for logistics and essential purchases.
Inside India: Resources can be dropped off at Goonj offices or donated online via Amazon.in, the Flipkart app, or DonateKart. Food donations can be made through BigBasket. Monetary donations can be made through Ketto [*Crowdfunding portal: 6% of donations deducted in addition to card processing/exchange/tax fee] or Goonj website. All monetary contributions are tax exempted under s80G of I-T Act 1961.
Outside India: Donate resources via Amazon.in or DonateKart. Monetary donations can be made through Ketto* or Goonj website.
Run by: Goonj (NGO)
Sent to: Resource and food aid direct to beneficiary
Oxfam India (NGO): Funding goes to long-term support, rehabilitation and rebuilding of homes, water supplies, and other facilities.
Inside India: Monthly donation options. 50% of donation is exempt from I-T Act 1961 under s80G.
Outside India: Monthly donation options. Credit card preferred for lower processing fees.
Run by: Oxfam India (NGO)
Sent to: Resource aid direct to beneficiary
ATMA Foundation (NGO): The funds raised through this project will be utilized to support relief work in Thrissur District, in coordination with local agencies in the worst-hit areas. Once the emergency situation is overcome, the funds will be utilized for long term reconstruction and rebuilding.
Inside India: Donations can be made online through SBI Connect. 50% of donation is exempt from I-T Act 1961 under s80G.
Outside India: UK and US residents can contribute through the GlobalGiving* page.[*Crowdfunding portal: 7% of donations deducted in addition to card processing/exchange/tax fee]
Run by: Suresh C K on behalf of ATMA (NGO)
Sent to: Resource aid direct to beneficiary (Thrissur district priority)
Individual and Malayali Association (NRI/Outside of India) run fundraising:
*Please note: Crowdfunding portals charge small fees per donation;
GoFundMe- 2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction
Facebook fundraising- dependent on country
Chuffed- 2.0% + $0.30 USD per transaction.
Please also note that donating to a bank account within one’s own country/currency may assist in minimising fund loss through processing/exchange.
**Please message if you would like your fundraiser added to the list.
Australia [AUD]
Donate to Help Kerala Flood Victims- via Chuffed*
Run by: Australia India Foundation Incorporated
Sent to: CMDRF
Kerala Flood Relief from Australia- via GoFundMe*
Run by: Ashly Sabu
Sent to: CMDRF
Kerala Flood Relief Fund from SMYM Australia- via Chuffed*
Run by: Syro-Malabar Youth Movement Australia
Sent to: SPANDAN- Mount St Thomas (NGO)
Kerala Flood Relief Fund from Australia #Ausforkerala- via Facebook*
Run by: Majosh Joseph
Sent to: CMDRF
Canada [CAD]
Kerala Flood Relief 2018- via GoFundMe*
Run by: Kerala Cultural Association of British Columbia Canada
Sent to: CMDRF
TMS- Kerala Floods Appeal for Help - via GoFundMe*
Run by: Toronto Malayalee Samajam
Sent to: CMDRF
Denmark [DKK]
Kerala Under Flood- via Facebook*
Run by: Joy Issac Menamparampil
Sent to: CMDRF
Germany [EUR]
Kerala Flood Relief Fund from Europe- via Facebook*
Run by: Thomas Thandath on behalf of Malayalee-Deutsches Treffen Baden-Württemberg
Sent to: CMDRF
Japan [JPY]
Nihonkairali Kerala Flood Relief Fund Collection Drive- via bank transfer
Run by: Nihon Kairali
Sent to: CMDRF
New Zealand [NZD]
Fundraising from NZ for Flood Relief- via Facebook*
Run by: Prince Johny
Sent to: CMDRF
UAE [AED]
Emirates Red Crescent Kerala Relief Fund- via UAE Red Crescent Authority
Run by: Emirates Red Cresent
Sent to: CMDRF- Local NGOs
Kerala Flood Relief- via Qatar Charity
Run by: Qatar Charity (NGO)
Sent to: Local NGOs
UK [GBP]
British Malayali Relief Appeal- via Virgin Money Giving
Run by: British Malayali Charity Foundation
Sent to: CMDRF
Khalsa Aid Kerala Floods Appeal- via MyDonate.bt
Run by: Khalsa Aid (NGO)
Sent to: Khalsa Aid workers in Kerala
Kerala Flood Disaster Relief - COMA- via GoFundMe*
Run by: Central Ohio Malayalee Association Dublin
Sent to: CMDRF
Kerala Flood Relief fund- via GoFundMe*
Run by: Archana Mathew
Sent to: CMDRF
USA [USD]
Kerala Flood Relief Fund from the USA- via Facebook*
Run by: Arun Nella on behalf of Knanaya Catholic Yuvajanavedhi of Chicago
Sent to: CMDRF [to route money through IRS certified charity (TBA) in Chicago to minimise fund loss through taxes]
Kerala Flood Relief Fund from the USA- via Facebook*
Run by: Sewa International USA
Sent to: Deseeya Seva Bharati Keralam (NGO)
GAMA Kerala Flood Relief Fund - via GoFundMe*
Run by: Greater Austin Malayalee Association
Sent to: CMDRF
Kerala Floods Relief Fundraiser- via GoFundMe*
Run by: The Kerala Club of Detroit, Michigan [The Kerala Club of Detroit will match donations by 20% (up to $10,000)]
Sent to: “most flood-affected district's authorities and/or local non-governmental organizations who are providing relief aid to the flood victims”
Singapore [SGD]
South India Floods Response - Public Appeal- via Red Cross
Run by: Singapore Red Cross
Sent to: CMDRF
Sweden [SEK]
Göteborg Kerala Flood Relief Fund- via Facebook*
Run by: Mukesh Muralidharan
Sent to: CMDRF
Switzerland [CHF]
Light of Life: Kerala Flood Relief- via Light of Life (donations are tax deductible in Switzerland)
Run by: Light of Life (NGO)
Sent to: CMDRF
