This is the age of social media, and if used effectively, it can be turned into a powerful tool for social change. It can spread the message of humanity and love, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi always seeks to emphasize.
Mayori Mungkung, a single mother, with her 10-month old adorable baby girl Rachel moved to Bengaluru from Manipur a few weeks ago in search of a livelihood. Her world fell apart when she discovered that Rachel had fluid in her lungs and required a major surgery. With the help of her friends, she admitted Rachel in Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. The hospital authorities said the procedure would cost about Rs 1.45 lakh. For the divorced woman, coming from the impoverished village of Loushing, the amount was unaffordable.
Mayori approached local Manipur organizations who connected her to Luckson also from Loushing. Luckson called up one of the most respected Manipurian, a Commissioner of Income Tax in Mumbai. The sympathetic commissioner approached people known to her from Bengaluru in Mumbai; one of them was Balakrishna Rai, a chartered accountant who was having scheduled meeting with her. Rai contacted this correspondent. We took up the issue with our social media friends Arvind Lodha and Parvathi Nathan and launched a campaign on July 28, on Twitter appealing people to donate for the cause. They set up a fund-raiser activity in crowd funding portal Milaap.org. With continuous follow-up, spreading the cause and providing updates, the team reached numerous compassionate people and could collect about Rs 1.7lakh in 24 hours; this was more than enough for the hospital expenses.
Knowing about the campaign through Twitter, the Chief Minister of Manipur Nongthombam Biren Singh tweeted to the campaign organisers to contact his office. The campaign team explained about the cause and CMO was touched by the hospitality of Bengalurians and those on social media. He immediately donated Rs 30,000 for Rachel’s post treatment expenditure and their return travel expenses to Manipur.
The surgery was successful and baby Rachel is in good health. Manipal Hospital also gave a handsome discount of Rs 20,000. Mayori and Rachel will fly back to Manipur this weekend. The campaign team has requested the Chief Minister’s office to support Mayori settle down either with a job or provide her with aid for self-employment so that she becomes a role model for women like her in her tiny, mountainous village.
Mayori is elated by the support she received from various sources and can’t stop thanking all those empathetic people who have supported her. Baby Rachel is hale and hearty.
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