Nestled in the vast delta along the Bay of Bengal, Sundarban also happens to be one of most cyclone prone area in the world. However large part of the inland including the city of Kolkata are often spared the worst of the terrible storms as the trees of the region stands sentinel and forms a natural protection from the ravage of the worst cyclones.

At a time when this region was already battling the COVID pandemic, and facing stiff climate change challenge with rapidly disappearing mangrove forest, came the twin onslaught of the “Amphan” and “Yaas”, two of the deadliest cyclones of the region in several centuries.

Adapting to changing times, after these deadly cyclones and ongoing pandemic, Kishalay have been at the forefront with relief effort and restoration efforts. The volunteers of Kishalay Foundation arranged for relief camps for the helpless families all over Sundarban. More than 1000 families were provided ration and dry food packets. Community kitchens were conducted in several areas to provide immediate support to the families who lost everything and were at the mercy of outside help. Bleaching powder and other hygiene supplies were distributed and ponds which were contaminated with saline water were restored. Apart from ecological balance these ponds form an essential part of daily lives in the rural areas.

During the peak of the second wave of COVID pandemic, Kishalay Foundation volunteers worked tirelessly reaching out to the remotest of villages with oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies in collaboration with partner NGOs. Medical camps were organized and for patients who were not in a state to come to the medical camps, our volunteers reached out to the patients to address their medical needs.

In association with Kolkata Gives and Mukti NGO we launched COVID relief services by our team with Oxygen Concentrators, Oximeters, distributing masks, essential medicines and sanitizers etc. at different locations in Sundarbans. We established our COVID Care Unit at Satjelia and Gosaba with an aim to extend our relief efforts in the remotest corners of Sundarban and support the distressed people with all possible ways during the most crucial times. Our COVID19 Relief Team was in action in Manmathanagar, Godkhali, Mokamberia, Canning and other locations at Sundarban during the pandemic times.

We also established a Covid Care Unit in association with Mukti and Kolkata Gives, our partner NGOs at Masjidbhanga village in Kandi block in Murshidabad district. We installed Oxygen Concentrator and provided necessary medicines, masks and sanitizers to this rural area largely dominated by Adivasi people. We also distributed medicines in this tribal village.

Amphan Relief 2020

Plantation Program

With a view to improve the environment and living conditions, Kishalay Foundation has come up with proposals of planting 15,000 fruit bearing trees to restore and refurbish the green lost in the cyclone. It will also contribute to global reforestation efforts, restoring lost greenery, repairing damaged ecosystems and mitigating climate changes.

Recently, Young Indians (Yi), has selected Kishalay Foundation as its partner NGO organisation to distribute 3800 fruit saplings in Sunderban. Young Indians is a movement for Indian Youth to converge, lead, co-create and influence India’s future. As an integral part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a non-government, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organisation, Yi plays a proactive role in India’s development process. Our fruit trees plantation program will greatly improve over the previous years with this support.