Chennai came to a crashing halt with extensive flooding across its nooks and corners, due to cyclone Michuang. Most localities within the city and its suburbs saw waist-deep water. There was no power, network and basic amenities of drinking water, and food became a challenge.
South Madras Cultural Association’s (SMCA) Charitable Trust rose to the occasion and crowdsourced a substantial amount of funds to arrange relief. Almost overnight, they came up with a roadmap for action – by locating the sites badly affected, assessing requirements, procuring and packing items, and putting in place the necessary logistics for relief work. Cyclone struck on Dec.4 and by Dec.8; the Trust reached the heavily affected areas of Taramani, distributing cooked lunch, drinking water, essential medicines and sanitary napkins to more than 250 residents.
Over the weekend of Dec.9 and 10, the Trust carried two more drives in Semmencherry and Pallikaranai. At Semmancheri, the Trust joined hands with the Food Bank to distribute 600 kits of essential items including milk powder, drinking water, candles, biscuits, mosquito repellent, bread and jam among others. At Pallikaranai, the Trust distributed 150 mats and 150 bed sheets along with 150 grocery kits with essential items such as rice, dal, soap, detergent, toothpaste, biscuits, tea, oil, sugar, salt, and phenyl. Along with this, the Trust also arranged a medical camp at the same venue, distributing essential medicines and sanitary pads.
On Dec.11, the Trust in collaboration with Sharadha Math, distributed 100 mats and 100 bedsheets to people in relief camps around Vadapalani. They also arranged a medical camp and distributed medicines and sanitary pads to affected people. All the medical camps were possible due to the initiative and generous support lent by Dr Anita Ramesh who is also a member of SMCA.
SMCA Charitable Trust has a long history of its unwavering commitment to charity and this time, with the crisis hitting Chennai, it was no exception.
