Lockdown: IIT-KGP alumni to provide financial aid to 10,500 unorganised sector workers

Kolkata, Apr 23 () Alumni of the IIT-Kharagpur haveset up a fund to provide financial assistance to around 10,500unorganised sector workers who are dependent on the campus forlivelihood and are now severely affected due to the lockdown,the institute said in a release on Thursday.

The beneficiaries, who will receive financialassistance for six months, include daily wagers in eateries,ward boys of the hostels, laundrymen, tea stall owners,rickshaw-pullers, domestic workers and labourers engaged inconstruction projects, it said.

The fund was created by 1967-batch distinguishedalumnus Vinod Gupta, known for his philanthropic work, therelease said.

"I thank Vinod Gupta for creating this fund to helppeople who are in dire straits," IIT-Kharagpur DirectorProfessor Virendra K Tewari said.

The donations are being collected by the IIT-KGPFoundation in the United States under the leadership of thegroup's president Ranbir Gupta, the release said.

The Foundation has already raised Rs 1.85 crore,including a pledge of Rs 76 lakh from Vinod Gupta, it said.

Ranbir Gupta, Arjun Malhotra, R N Mukhija, RakeshGupta and 100 more donors from the 1959 to 2017 batches havecontributed to the fund, the release said.

The alumni in the US aim to raise around Rs 8 crore tohelp the unorganised sector workers, it said.

The director has urged every "IIT KGPian" to supportthe initiative. "This is the time to reminisce your days atthe halls of residence and the mess dada's smile, your 'adda'at the night canteens and the people who had served you thatcup of tea and paratha," Tewari said. SUSACD ACD