Samhita Alliances Aim to Benefit 1 Million Lives Impacted by the COVID-19 Crisis in India

Highlights

* Announces partnership with leading corporates including Mahindra Logistics, Uber, IDFC FIRST Bank, Brihati Foundation (by Claris), Crompton Greaves, Blowhorn to raise funds

* The first tranche of direct benefit transfers has already benefitted over 93,000 people

Samhita Social Ventures, a leading social sector consulting firm, aims to impact the lives of over 1 million people affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It has set up two coalitions - India Workers Alliance and India Protectors Alliance - which bring together companies from various industries in India with effective partners in the social sector to help vulnerable sections of the society. Between the two alliances, Samhita hopes to benefit over 1 million people. The firm works with various stakeholders such as companies, donor organizations, government agencies and social organizations and builds long term partnerships between them to achieve maximized social impact.

The India Workers Alliance aims to help gig economy professionals, construction labourers, truck drivers, daily wage earners and other blue collar workers while the India Protectors Alliance works with the people who are at the front lines of the fight against the virus including healthcare workers, policemen and sanitation workers. Samhita has partnered with leading corporates including Mahindra Logistics, Uber, IDFC FIRST Bank, Crompton Greaves, Brihati Foundation (by Claris) and Blowhorn to mobilize resources that will aid those who are most affected.

The Samhita Model of combating COVID-19 is strongly focused on ensuring efficiency of the funds that is being deployed and therefore adopts evidence-backed solutions. These solutions have also been recommended by experts such as Nobel Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in their respective interviews and media interactions. Further, the solutions have been curated in consultation with advisors such as Dr. Nachiket Mor of the Banyan Academy of Leadership and the former Country Director of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Samhita has, over the last 10 years, mobilized over INR 500 crores from companies across the geographical landscape of India.

Priya Naik, Founder and CEO, Samhita Social Ventures said “At Samhita, we believe in solving wicked problems through the power of collaboration. We have adopted the same approach in addressing the current COVID-19 situation – forge partnerships across samaj-sarkar-bazaar to help those most impacted by the pandemic. We understand that the pandemic has also gravely impacted companies and stressed their cash and fund flows. But now is the time to pool all available resources and help those who form the backbone of your industry, your ecosystem and your economy. It is time to not just help your own workforce but also support those who work across your value chain. Be a part of a bigger coalition – whether existing alliances or a new one that you choose to champion in your industry.”

The India Workers Alliance will undertake direct benefit transfers to blue collar workers who have been most affected by the crisis. Further, it will help facilitate access to eligible government schemes and affordable insurance or security products so that the workers and their families are secured from the effects of this pandemic situation. This Alliance will work in partnership with Super Money and Haqdarshak to ensure that the benefits reach the targeted people and there is rigorous monitoring and reporting of the benefits derived from the solutions.

The first tranche of direct benefit transfers has already been made and over 93,000 people have benefitted.

The India Protectors’ Alliance aims to support some of the people who are fighting on the frontline of the war against COVID-19 – healthcare practitioners and sanitation workers. This Alliance will provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), training and capacity building to the healthcare personnel and aim to provide access to innovative financial and insurance products.

What some of their partners have to say –

"We are pleased to partner with a leading social enterprise such as Samhita in aiding our effort to help driver partners in these challenging times. Samhita is helping us disburse the grants from Uber Care Driver Fund to the accounts of driver partners effectively, and supporting us in helping driver partners meet their immediate and essential family needs." - Pavan Vaish, Head of Central Operations, Uber India and South Asia

“With over 30% of commercial vehicles stranded on roads across the country, drivers need urgent support. Truck drivers and their families are in immediate need of cash for food and other basic facilities. We have launched several programs to support the driver community along with our business partners. Through this initiative with Samhita Social Ventures, we aim to help these drivers and their families, until the situation in the country is restored.” - Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD & CEO, Mahindra Logistics Limited

ABOUT SAMHITA SOCIAL VENTURES

Samhita Social Ventures is a social sector consulting firm which collaborates with various stakeholders to develop and deliver impactful, sustainable and scalable solutions. Along with their non-profit initiative Collective Good Foundation, they have strategized and executed impactful social interventions for companies across sectors and across the geographical landscape of India.