TIMES OF INDIA and FLOOD RELIEF

Keeping in view the need of the hour, Times Foundation initiated a model of development - Sahabhagi, a citizen-government platform; taking forward the formula of effective interface between the people and the power for effectual growth and partnered approach to social development. Times Foundation is a development house set up by the Times of India Group to promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable development, facilitating affirmative interventions for self-development, education, health, women's empowerment, environment and disaster management. Times Foundation acts as a catalyst, primarily through information dissemination, issue-based mobilization and fundraising. Times Foundation is a point of convergence for government agencies, NGOs, the corporate sector and individuals to bring issues to the fore, heighten awareness, encourage dialogue and deliberation to synergise initiatives for inclusive and equitable socio-economic development. The interventions of the Foundation include advocacy and analysis, information dissemination and awareness generation, partnership building, promoting social initiatives among corporate houses and civil society, capacity building, fundraising in the focus areas of health, education, livelihood generation, relief and rehabilitation for marginalised groups like women, street and homeless children, the unemployed, the differently abled persons. The core verticals in the areas of intervention are Public Private Partnerships, Public Policy Advocacy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Capacity Building and Information Dissemination.

Times Foundation is a strategic organisation, working on a macro canvas connecting, highlighting, facilitating - creating effective bridges among stakeholders to ensure clarity of purpose and focused action. Times Foundation's role encompasses facilitating and networking and effectively connecting with all stakeholders in its pursuit of an inclusive society where people and their concerns are mainstreamed and effectively addressed. Managed by the Times Foundation, the Times of India Relief Fund has been at the forefront of relief wherever and whenever it is needed.

Times of India is moving forward in the direction of working towards the relief and rehabilitation by improving the quality, efficiency and delivery of the affected. This is with the theme of citizen partnerships for good, modern and humane partnerships. This is to involve participation of citizens, NGOs and public representatives in collective programmes and activities along with the Government authorities. It is to provide a link between its readers and the calamity-stricken that the Times Group set up the Times Relief Fund. The Times Foundation has been registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 on October 12, 1978. All donations made by Indian nationals to The Times of India Relief Fund are entitled to a deduction under Section 80G of the Income-Tax Act 1961.

CORE VERTICALS OF THE FOUNDATION

The Times Foundation has five core verticals. These are information dissemination, public policy initiatives, corporate social responsibility, capacity building and public private partnerships. Public Private Partnerships The Foundation believes that public-private partnerships and e-governance are the key catalysts that would drive the future development agenda. To this end it has been raising awareness on these issues through conferences and meetings with civil society organisations and government agencies at various levels.

Public Policy Advocacy Any initiative which seeks to analyse, examine and eventually change or amend public policy has to operate in an atmosphere of awareness and debate. TF promotes dialogue between the policy makers and grassroot organisations to assess as many areas of policy impact as possible. In case of yet to be implemented policies this process lessens the chances that a given policy will have unexpected or unintended consequences Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility is one of the least understood stakeholders in the Indian development sector today. Lack of understanding and inadequately trained personnel are severely hampering the reach and effectiveness of CSR programmes. TF aims to bring professionalism and transparency in CSR programmes through a systematic process of information dissemination and skill enhancement. Capacity Building TF's capacity building initiatives centre around equipping NGO's with knowledge and skills required to enable them to evolve and make meaningful contributions in their field of operations. This assistance includes human resource and organisational development. Information Dissemination Information dissemination is the primary tool used by TF to further its objectives and scope of activities. Awareness, understanding and knowledge are the main weapons which impel the initial steps towards any resolution and progress. Recognising the importance of clear, verifiable, unprejudiced data and its role in bringing about issue-based mobilization, TF is building a robust information network consisting of a website, e-newsletter and a quarterly magazine.
They have also been numerous awards and recognition for their role and efforts in this area.

They have done relief work with regards to numerous disasters. Here is a list of their work: Tsunami Relief (2004) Orissa Cyclone (1999) Gujarat Cyclone (1998) Latur Earthquake (1993) Andhra Cyclone (1979) Yamuna Floods (1978) Patna Floods (1975) Koyna Earthquake (1967) Bombay Fire (1958) Bihar and Punjab Floods (1955) Ramdas Ship Disaster (1947) Gujarat Earthquake The Kargil Conflict (1999) Jayabala Ashar (1998) Bombay Riots (1993) Bihar Earthquake (1988) Morvi Floods (1979) Andhra Cyclone (1977) Gujarat Floods (1968) Indo-China War (1962) Anjar Earthquake (1956) Bihar and Assam Floods (1954) Bombay Cyclone (1940)

Yamuna Floods (1978)

Unprecedented floods practically cut off North India from the rest of the country in September 1978. Almost all the northern states-Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Punjab-were affected by the floods. Apart from the heavy toll of life, each state suffered heavy damages to property and disruption of telecommunication services. Flash floods uprooted lives of over a million in West Bengal, where 41 died and scores of bodies were found floating in river Kangsbati in Midnapore district. In Bihar, Khageria in Monghyr district was marooned and inaccessible by road or steamers. In Delhi, 20 people died when Yamuna gushed through the Capital's streets and divided it into two distinct areas. Flood waters invaded Shanti Vana and Vijaya Ghat, samadhis of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadhur Shastri respectively, and affected Delhi AIR services. The devastation caused by the floods in the North followed similar destruction by heavy rains and floods in the eastern region of India. Taking into consideration the heavy losses in life and property, The Times of India Group announced a relief fund to provide help to victims of the disaster. Sum collected by TOIRF was handed over to governmental agencies for relief and rehabilitation.

Morvi Floods (1979)

In 1979, western India witnessed devastating floods. Thousands lost their lives and property worth crores were lost in towns and villages across Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. But the worst-hit area in the 1979 floods was, undoubtedly, the Morvi-Malia belt near Rajkot in Gujarat. About 1,200 people died in the Morvi region alone after the frenzied Machhu river overflowed into the town and its surrounding areas in the last week of August. A visit to the site revealed sights of mass destruction. According to relief workers, bloated bodies and animal carcasses floated through the streets, and survivors were seen hanging onto trees and rooftops. There were also some heart-wrenching scenes. Relief workers found the body of a young girl clutching the rakhi on the wrist of her brother. Father and son were found frozen to death on their easy chairs. But the most unfortunate incident occurred in a temple situated in the Vajepur area of Morvi. As soon as worshippers realised that water levels were rising, they got hold of a ladder and started scampering up the temple. However, the ladder broke mid-way, people waiting to climb to safety were soon washed away by the swirling waters. Relief operation was hampered for days on end as foot-long layer of slush covered the entire

town. With no mode of transport and electricity, work of collecting bodies was painfully slow. In fact, on the first day of the relief operation, only 30 bodies were lifted. To help survivors get over the tragedy to help rebuild the township, the Times of India set up a relief fund. Started with an initial contribution from the Times Group, the fund's collection was used for constructing a primary school building in a village in Morvi. In another village, where women and children had to walk for three to four km for drinking water, TOIRF provided them with drinking water supply in thier own village.

CONCLUSION

The Times of India foundation and specifically relief fund deals with getting like minded people together towards opening out arms to help the ones affected.They themselves provide a lot of funds but not just this, they also give companies and people a platform to donate and help by sending cheques, utility items and cash in the name of a known name which further passes on the money to Government agencies or collaborate with nongovernmental organizations to further meet the objective.