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Indian Institute of Technology Madras Alumni in India and abroad have donated more than US$ 2 million towards Covid relief efforts in India that are being coordinated by their Alma Mater. IIT Madras is using a phased approach for deployment to ensure a high impact.
The fundraising was coordinated by the office Of Alumni and Corporate Relations (ACR), IIT Madras, in association with IIT Madras Alumni Association of North America and IITM Foundation in the US.
The IIT-M Alumni Charitable Trust played a vital role in the logistics and in liaising with the local government to ensure timely deployment of the units.
Elaborating about these efforts from IIT Madras Alumni, Anand Rajaraman, a partner at a Silicon Valley-based Venture Capital firm Rocketship VC and an IIT Madras alumnus, said, “It is the duty of the Indian diaspora to rally and help the country get through these darkest hours. As a Chennai boy, I am grateful and proud that the IIT Madras Alumni network has mobilized to help Chennai and Tamil Nadu with medical equipment and supplies to fill critical gaps and save thousands of lives.”
Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras, handed over 200 oxygen concentrators (10 liters capacity each), purchased with the aid of these contributions, to Gagandeep Singh Bedi IAS, Commissioner, Chennai Corporation, on 3rd June, 2021 in the presence of M A Siddique IAS, Principal Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Mr. Meghanatha Reddy IAS, Deputy Commissioner (Works), Government of Tamil Nadu, Prof Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (ACR), N Alamelu, Secretary, IIT-M Alumni Charitable Trust, Kaviraj Nair, CEO (development office), IIT Madras, and others.
Further, Dr Jane Prasad, Registrar, IIT Madras, handed over 74 BiPAP Units to Chennai Corporation Officials recently. IIT Madras Alumni have also donated 200 oxygen concentrators (5 liters each) to Telangana Government.
Elaborating on their efforts, Kamal Duggirala, chairman IITM Foundation-US, said, “It has been an amazing experience to contribute to this campaign with fellow alumni from IIT Madras. So many people stepped forward to source equipment, raise funds and ensure delivery of the equipment. It is gratifying to know that we could make a difference at a very challenging time in India.”
N Alamelu, Secretary, IIT Madras Alumni Charitable Trust, Chennai, added, “Through this donation, our (IIT Madras) Alumni would like to say that ‘while we may be separated by physical distance, our thoughts and support are always with you. We are with you.”
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IT Madras alumni working as senior executives with reputed MNCs were actively involved in evaluating and finalising the options available at various stages throughout the process. IIT Madras will continue to contribute to the Covid relief measures in the months to come, as social commitment has always been a topmost priority for the Institute.
Lauding these efforts, Professor. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, said, “Our alumni have reacted swiftly and forcefully to fulfill a need created by this pandemic. We are ever grateful to them for their support.”
Kaviraj Nair, CEO (development office), IIT Madras, added, “We saw a tremendous response from our alumni who rose to the occasion and contributed generously to Covid relief activities. IIT-M Alumni have demonstrated again that we are conscious of our social responsibilities and most willing to help our nation in times of need.”
Besides these efforts, IIT Madras has formed a Covid Relief Fund to support students and faculty who are in distress due to the medical exigencies caused by the pandemic. In the last financial year (FY’21), IIT Madras raised as much as Rs. 96 lakh to cater to the Covid relief requirements of students and employees of IIT Madras.
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