Bengaluru: Teens raise Rs 3.3 lakh, donate medical kits to rural PHCs

BENGALURU: A 16-year-old led a team of volunteers to raise funds to support three primary health centres (PHCs) in Anekal taluk with Covid-19 medical kits and oxygen concentrators all worth Rs 3.3 lakh.
Aadiv Reki, a class 11 student of Indus International School, took up the project under a larger initiative — Project Breathe (Usiradu) — launched by Bellandur Jothege, a charitable changemakers group. Project Breathe is the group’s effort to ensure medical oxygen for Covid patients in rural areas.
The spark for the project came after Aadiv, a junior Bellandur Jothege volunteer, shadowed the group’s work. He realised that there was a need for medical kits in remote PHCs and rural parts of the state to tackle the pandemic. He then decided to deliver oxygen concentrators and relief kits to marginalised communities in rural areas in Anekal taluk — focusing on communities around his school.
For this, he formed a team of six (including himself), roping in his classmates and work began in June. They began with tasks like mapping demand, collaborating with government health officials, raising funds through campaigns and material donor support.
“We regularly checked with the PHCs to understand what their need was and what the demand was like,” he said, adding that the centres cover a population of an estimated 30,000 residents.
While Aadiv managed and led the project, his teammates Samarth Govil and Naren R provided fundraising support; Tharun V, Arnav N and Pooja P helped with coordination with PHCs.
The funds came from a variety of sources and Aadiv also interacted with CSR donors, while the team also created a donation link on Milaap – which helped them with extra funds for transportation.
On Saturday, after more than a month of hard work, the team will hand over the kits to the PHCs. The kits include three oxygen concentrators worth Rs 55,000 to 60,000 (one for each PHC), more than 200 PPE kits, pulse oximeters, IR thermometers, O2 masks, N95 masks, face shields etc.
Kishori Mudaliar, founder of Bellandur Jothege, told TOI that it was heartening to see Aadiv’s empathy and commitment to the cause, and the spirit of collaboration in the way he got every team member engaged. “He and his team of junior Bellandur Jothege volunteers continue to make us and the community proud,” she said.
The 11th grader says their work is in preparation for a probable third wave. “Our work doesn’t end with this. I will take this project further if the PHCs need more support,” he said.