The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Gift blankets, spread warmth'

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Saturday, Dec 25, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Gift blankets, spread warmth'

Staff Reporter

Winter project: Members of the Indian Development Foundation plan to distribute blankets to 1,500 leprosy patients

Bangalore: “Everybody can become a Santa by donating a blanket,” says Narayan B. Iyer, CEO and national coordinator of the Indian Development Foundation (IDF).

For the last seven winters, IDF has been helping leprosy-affected persons survive the cold through their blanket distribution programmes. “Leprosy patients constitute the bottom most rung in the hierarchy of privilege,” he explains.

With a target of covering 1,500 people before the end of this winter, activists of the IDF are in a tearing hurry. The collection is on in full swing, says Mr. Iyer, adding that as many as 700 blankets were collected by December 20. Exuding hope that they will reach their target very soon, he says that Mahindra and Mahindra Finance have pledged another 400 blankets. Talking about the donors, Mr. Iyer said people come forward naturally if they are aware of the programme and added that there has been a better response from individuals than from the corporate sector. “To make things simpler, we have tied up with Khadi Bhandar in all the cities that our programme covers. So we get blankets at a fixed rate of Rs. 250 each,” he said.

Interested donors can visit: www.ibs.org.in

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