Parul University opens its hearts in combat against Covid 19

Contribute a day’s salary for Covid-19 crisis

With the healthcare workers, the firefighters, the
police officers and the army amongst other civil services personnel at the
forefront of the battle against Covid 19, the Parul University stakeholders
took a selfless step towards contributing to this fight. Amidst the current
lockdown in Vadodara city and all of India, as a social distancing
precautionary strategy to curb the spread of the virus, the faculty members and
stakeholders of this University took the initiative of pledging their  one
day worth of salary towards the Covid 19 relief work. 

This Friday the University’s teaching and non
teaching staff from the Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Rajkot campuses unanimously
agreed to contribute a part of their salaries amounting to 28 Lakh, dedicated
towards supporting the Gujarat Chief Minister’s relief fund.  

Covid 19 has not only become an issue relating to
the health sector, but rather this pandemic has become a threat to all the
sectors of humanity, from the economic sector to the educational sector. It was
in line with this point of understanding, that the 2000 teaching and non
teaching staff members collectively agreed to go beyond merely social
distancing by giving their active support even from home. 

Beyond the daily salaries, some of the faculty
members went the extra mile to contribute their full monthly salaries towards
this fight, expressing their desire to ensure the well being and the welfare of
the community and nation at large. “Amidst this nationwide lockdown, I was more
than glad for the opportunity to actively help and be a part of the combat
against Covid 19 even while social distancing” said Dr Shailesh Patel, who was
amongst the Parul University faculties who committed their entire monthly
salaries for this noble course.

In addition, the University went on to launch a
crowdfunding initiative, by creating a link through which not only the
University’s staff, but the Indian society at large could donate. The outbreak
of this virus has rampaged not only the medical wellbeing of the people but
also their socio economic welfare. In particular, it has resulted in the loss
of income sources for the daily wage labourers and community workers. In an
effort to combat this specific challenge, Parul University created this funding
platform so as to welcome contributions from well wishers across the nation.
Within 20 mins of going live with  this platform, there were already
donations amounting to 1 lakh, displaying the highest form of solidarity and
togetherness in helping one another to navigate these times of economic
uncertainty. 

The funds which were donated were further converted
into specific food relief packages, which included the most essential supplies
which may be required by these daily wage labourers. The food packages contain
rice, aata, tuver dal, oil, potatoes, haldi powder, sugar amongst other
essentials. The first run of this campaign saw donations amounting to INR
3,13,349, from which these food packages were put together and will be
continued to for a period of time. 

“In such a time such as this I believe it is
imperative for us to recognise as humanity that we are all in this together,
which is why it is of great significance that we join our hands today and work
together so that we all may all come of it in his Covid 19 pandemic. As a
University and as a Community, we believe such efforts will go a long way in
developing our students with a heart of social service”, said the University’
Medical Director and Head Social Responsive Cell, Dr Geetika Patel.