How to do a fundraiser, Case Study : Floods in North East India

अपने लिये जिये तो क्या जिये - तू जी ,ऐ दिल, ज़माने के लिये

I am feeling very accomplished today. We raised 1,84,743 INR for flood relief in Tripura. By "we", I mean Tripurites living in the Bay Area, California, who often come together to celebrate Saraswati Pujo or occasionally enjoy a summer picnic under the banner "TRIPTI, Bay Area."

Though it wasn't the biggest fundraiser, it was one of the fastest I ever witnessed. My brothers and sisters from Tripura donated generously to raise the amount in just a few days.

Arranged alphabetically, the donors are-

Abhijit Datta 

Aditi Sengupta 

Alokparna Deb

Anindita Bhattacharya 

Anindita Debnath 

Aparna Ganguly

Arijit Das 

Arunava Majumdar

Debarshi Kar 

Dhrishni Chakraborti 

Jishnu Bhattacharjee 

Joyasree Debbarma

Mandakranta Deb

Pamela Das 

Partha Ghosh 

Rajat Naha 

Rajib Deb 

Ratan Banik

Saikat Saha 

Sangram Ganguly

Santanu Bhattacharya

Saradindu Debnath 

Sauravi Bhoumik 

Suchayita Bhattacharjee 

Sudipa Bhattacharya 

Suman Chandra Shil 

Tanuka Bhattacharjee 

Tirtha Bhattacharjee

Vaishali Chaudhuri 

It has been donated to Lions Club of Agartala ANISH, and we hope it will help some of the families affected by the recent floods. 

A Lesson in Geography

Tripura, the state I was born in, is a tiny state in northeast India. 

Trivia: The 19 communities are - Tripuri, Riang, Jamatia, Noatia, Uchai, Chakma, Mog, Lushai, Kuki, Halam, Munda, Kaur, Orang, Santal, Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Garo, Khasia, and Lepcha.

Despite being a culturally rich and diverse region, the national media organizations often allocate fewer resources to cover Northeast India, preferring to focus on regions with larger audiences and more perceived importance to the national narrative. The Northeast is seen as peripheral in terms of political and economic influence within India. This perception leads to less media coverage than other regions seen as more central to the nation’s political and economic life.

For example, a tiny state like Tripura has only two Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. 

So, the onus is on the state's people to inform the world of the correct narrative of a crisis situation and seek remedy.

The Problem

Severe floods in Northeast India have caused widespread damage and disruption across the states. Triggered by heavy monsoon rains, the flooding affected multiple districts, displacing thousands of residents and submerging large areas. (News article: Assam Floods, AP News)

Impact on Communities

Entire communities have been forced to evacuate as rivers overflowed their banks, flooding homes, farmlands, and infrastructure. Low-lying areas have been the hardest hit, with many villages cut off due to submerged roads and collapsed bridges. The state's capital, Agartala, also experienced significant waterlogging, complicating relief efforts and daily life.

Relief and Rescue Operations

The state governments and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been actively involved in relief and rescue operations. Emergency shelters have been set up to accommodate those displaced by the floods, and efforts are underway to provide food, clean drinking water, and medical aid to affected populations. Helicopters and boats have been deployed to rescue stranded people and deliver essential supplies to isolated areas.

Agricultural and Economic Losses

The flooding has dealt a severe blow to agriculture, with vast paddy fields and other crops destroyed. This is expected to significantly impact farmers' livelihoods and could lead to food shortages in the coming months. The economic losses extend beyond agriculture, as businesses, particularly in rural areas, have suffered damage to property and inventory.

Health Concerns

The floodwaters have raised concerns about waterborne diseases, as sanitation facilities have been compromised in many areas. The state health department is on high alert, working to prevent outbreaks of diseases like cholera and dengue by distributing medicines and promoting awareness about hygiene practices.

Response and Future Challenges

The government has announced financial assistance for those affected by the floods, but the path to recovery will be long and challenging. The situation highlights the need for better flood management and infrastructure development in the state to mitigate the future effects of such natural disasters.

As the rains continue, the immediate focus remains on relief efforts, but long-term solutions will be crucial to protect northeast communities from future flooding 

Here are some steps you can take to organize and execute a fundraising campaign:

1. Identify Needs

Understand the specific needs of the affected communities. In the flood-affected areas of Tripura, food, shelter, medical aid, and rebuilding infrastructure were provided.

2. Partner with Organizations

Collaborate with local NGOs, charities, or government agencies already involved in relief efforts to ensure your fundraising efforts are effective and well-coordinated. In this case, we decided to collaborate with Lions Club of Agartala ANISH because the Secretary, Biswajit Banik, is a former classmate from Holy Cross School, Agartala.  And I could vouch for him personally and his accountability for his actions.

3. Create a Campaign

Develop a compelling narrative around the cause, highlighting the impact of the floods and emphasizing the situation's urgency. Please share videos and images with the potential donors so they can gauge the situation for themselves. For example, this YouTube short

4. Utilize Multiple Platforms

Use online crowdfunding platforms, social media, and traditional media channels to reach a broader audience and attract donations. Personal appeal works best in case of a humanitarian crisis.

5. Organize Events

Host fundraising events such as charity drives, benefit concerts, or auctions to raise funds and increase community involvement. In the end, most people want to help, but few know how. Give them options.  And a clear process. 

6. Transparency 

Ensure transparency in how donations will be utilized and provide regular updates on the progress of relief efforts to donors. It is one of the most crucial things because people don't want to donate to organizations without accountability.

7. Long-term Support

Consider sustainable support beyond immediate relief, such as rebuilding infrastructure or providing livelihood support to help communities recover. For example, clean drinking water would become an issue in flood-affected areas, so the charities can volunteer to build hand pumps or tubewells that will help to provide fresh water,

You can make a significant impact by mobilizing resources effectively and engaging the community.