As I observe my country facing this deadly pandemic, my thoughts have often turned to the plight of the least fortunate around me. While this is a frightening time for all of us, some of our neighbors’ very survival and dignity are now threatened by the lack of access to basics like food or medicine. I soon realised that apart from being my moral obligation as a citizen of my country, serving my vulnerable fellow citizens is a passion that is central to who I am.

In no time, my thoughts turned to action, and the Rising World Foundation was born. From day one, I, along with RWF’s volunteers, have occupied the frontlines of the crisis, distributing thousands of meals, dry ration kits, masks and sanitisers to stranded migrant workers, wage earners and others impacted by the pandemic across the five states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat.

The unending resilience and courage of the people that I am serving has inspired me thoroughly, and even though we have made progress, I am aware of the sheer scope of work that awaits us. Therefore, I plead my friends to join us and help bring relief to those in need. No donation is ever too small, and every rupee helps someone, somewhere who is more in need than us.