In a unique fundraising initiative, the city-based NGO, The Divine Foundation, organized the ‘raddi’ drive to raise funds for cataract surgeries for two underprivileged women. 

The foundation successfully raised Rs 26,000 from old newspapers collected as part of the drive, DH Subhramaniam, founder of The Divine Foundation, added.

The NGO has partnered with the Panvel-based Laxmi Charitable Trust. The trust conducts regular medical camps to assist underprivileged citizens and often reaches out to us for financial support. “As an NGO, we are committed to provide our best assistance,” Subhramaniam added. 

“Laxmi Charitable Trust contacted the foundation in late February, requesting help with funding cataract surgeries planned for March 8,” he said. 

“Upon receiving the request, my wife Sharadha, Sujatha Ranganathan, the foundation’s core member and treasurer, and I decided to take action,” Subhramaniam said. 

“It was Sujatha who suggested the raddi drive. We quickly created a WhatsApp message and shared it in multiple groups to spread the word.”

Sujatha Ranganathan, who led the effort, reflected on the overwhelming response: “Within no time, we started receiving messages of support. People began visiting our homes to drop off their raddi, and those who couldn’t come personally sold their waste and transferred the proceeds. It was beyond what we imagined. From March 2 to March 7, we collected 1,000 kg of raddi, which was sold for Rs 26,000.”

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the movement was the involvement of children. Sujatha points out, “Many young people came forward to help. One such supporter, 12-year-old Baivabi Sarangi, Seawoods, shared her experience: ‘I’ve always seen my parents help others. When I read about this drive, I wanted to contribute. Although I just collected the raddi and handed it over, it felt really good to be a part of it.”

Neela Wadke, 52, also from Seawoods, a first-time participant in such a drive, also expressed her joy in contributing. "I've always tried to help in small ways, but this was my first time joining an initiative for a specific cause," she said. "I quickly gathered a group of children from my society, and we began collecting raddi. The best part was seeing the young children wholeheartedly supporting the cause.”

“The success of the raddi drive not only brought relief to the two women who received cataract surgeries on March 8, but also highlighted the power of community involvement in bringing about change”, Sharadha added.