Two Japan-based Ayurveda institutions launch Sewa Project to raise JPY 15 million to help India fight Covid-19

NEW DELHI: Two Japan-based groups of Ayurveda professionals supported by the Indian and Japanese community have been working relentlessly since May when the second wave of Coronavirus hit India, to send medical equipment and material to help India fight this deadly virus. 

With a target of raising 15 million Japanese yen under “Sewa Project – Japan to India COVID Relief Mission”, the Ayurveda Society of Japan and Ayurveda Association of Japan have already raised over 7.5 million yen and sent oxygen equipment and funds to various Indian organizations including the Red Cross Society of India and NGO Doctors for You. 

Their wide variety of material aid including oxygen cylinders, masks, defibrillators, pulse oximeters, thermal guns, gloves, ISCU beds, syringe pumps, multipart monitors, wheelchairs, and stretchers has been delivered to 10 institutions in four states, Kerala, Bihar, Telangana, and Maharashtra. 

It was five months ago when this urgent project to rescue India being affected critically by the second wave of the COVID-19 was launched jointly by the two groups of Ayurveda professionals in Japan. 

On the 9th of May “Sewa Project” – Japan to India COVID Relief Mission” started fundraising through a crowd-funding platform in Japan. 

By the 20th of July, a sum of INR 4,863,624 of the donation was received from 500 + donors, which was a mix of individuals, groups of private and public organizations in Japan and elsewhere. Many Indian expats in Japan also donated generously. 

The first batch of material aid, which included 15 Oxygen Concentrators was procured by the Sewa Project and got delivered to the Indian Red Cross Society of India on June 15.

The second and the third batches were handed over to the expert coordination with the needy medical institutions by an NGO specialized in such a field.

The second wave of COVID-19 in India, the explosion of infection by mutants, threatens medical care, social infrastructure, and ordinary life, and the days of threatening family members and close people continue to be lost there.

The name of the project, “Sewa”, is a word used interchangeably in Hindi and Japanese in India. 

The mission looks forward to the warm support of companies, organizations, and individuals who want to reach out when their loved ones are in trouble.

 According to the organisors, a total of 7,476,564 yen was raised by July 20.

These donations were sent to India three times and shared with the Indian Red Cross of India and local NGOs (Doctors for You), completed the procurement of oxygen concentrators and other relief supplies, and were delivered to 11 medical institutions in four Indian states between mid-June and the end of August. 

Tomio Isogai, an India-based freelance Indo-Japanese affairs advisor, and former Managing Director of Sharp India, said, “I was very fortunate to get deeply involved in this rescue mission from the very beginning and fully enjoyed working as an advisor/mentor of the Stirring Committee of the project which was a mix of Indian and Japanese younger volunteers.”

He said that the passionate volunteers of the project included Ankit Awasthi, Jivesh Madan, Sayan Das for the coordination with medical equipment suppliers and NGOs; and many other members who contributed in various capacities. He also thanked the steering committee members Minori Sawa, Takayoshi Uchiumi, Prasad Bakre, and Vineet Jain for their relentless efforts and devotion. 

The organization that supported the “Sewa Project” – Japan to India COVID Relief Mission” include Ziva Japan Ayurveda HP: https://www.jiva-ayurveda.jp/, Kansai-Japan-India Cultural Association WEBSITE: https://www.kansainichiin.com/, Yokohama India Center HP: http://www.yokohama-india.or.jp/, Billings Co., Ltd. HP: https://willings.co.jp/, KYG Association, NPO WEBSITE: http://www.kyg.jp/, Npo Japan Ayurvedic Institute WEBSITE: http://www.ayv-school.com/, Life Science Laboratories, Inc. WEBSITE: http://www.life-science.co.jp/index.html, Sano Corporation Website: https://sanoh-corp.jp/, Maharishi Research Institute, Ltd. WEBSITE: https://maharishi.or.jp/ Maharishi Ayurveda Ltd HP: https://m-veda.jp/, Japan Guard Association HP: http://mitorishihaken.jp/, College of Ayurveda, UK HP: http://www.ayurvedacollege.jp/, Japan-India Cultural Exchange Network Website: https://tsunagaru-india.com/, Todow Vedic Center HP: http://vedacenter.jp/, and 22st Century Society HP: http://www.22seikigakkai.com/.