A group of students from Greenwood High School in Bengaluru have mobilized funds over Rs three lakh to help the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

To fund for the treatment of patients, ensure medications and oxygen supplies for them, Greenwood High student and founder of ‘Ration Square’, Anvi Mittal and her friends recently mobilized funds and collected over Rs 3 lakh in contribution over the last few days. The funds were raised from the Greenwood High parent community, friends and well-wishers. Ration Square, which has 30 members, is a student-run initiative that helps people in need.

The students have also collaborated with initiative Mercy Mission of a non government organization, to undertake purchase and distribution of Covid-related medical supplies and treatment of patients at its HBS Hospital in Shivajinagar. Apart from procuring oxygen, Mercy Mission utilized the funds to expand its network of ambulances to transport patients to its hospital from any part of the city. Mercy Mission campaign is an emergency response team formed by Project Smile and other NGOs in Bengaluru to provide support to the public from all corners of the city in the present second wave of Covid.

Anvi Mittal, the student who initiated the efforts said that parents and her classmates were mostly the contributors for this effort.

“Ration Square was successful last year in raising more than Rs. 5,00,000 and distributing ration amongst the migrant labourers and daily wage workers during the pandemic. A big chunk of that was possible only due to Greenwood High and its parent community. The second surge of Covid required an immediate response from Ration Square and that’s why we raised funds this time too for this 100% not-for-profit campaign. We have disclosed the use of proceeds in a transparency report that has been sent to all contributors.”

Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School, said: “Ration Square has undertaken a much-needed initiative to help Covid patients. A situation like Covid can be handled well by collective response from society that is effective and solution-oriented.”

Donations can be made using GooglePay or PayTM to 9980517516 (Nilu Mittal). Students can be reached at  [email protected] or [email protected] or visit https://www.rationsquare.com/