Breathe Life into India
Why?
28+ million cases, 330,000+ deaths due to COVID
We’re on a mission to change that
This “Breathe Life into India” campaign was launched by PIIMA (Pan IIM Alumni Association) Singapore on 1 May 2021 with the Singapore Red Cross, in collaboration with other institutions including Temasek and ACT, and the Indian High Commission. Along with fundraising, we are also focused on the more difficult challenge of procuring quality supply of oxygen concentrators, cylinders and other essential equipment.
Under the Registry of Societies guidelines, PIIMA has an approved permit from MCCY and the Commissioner of Charities for our "Breathe Life into India" fundraising campaign.
Model
Focusing on fundraising and supply chain
PIIMA has raised funds in Singapore via Giving.sg in partnership with the Singapore Red Cross, and on the Milaap platform with United Way Bengaluru (UWB) as the beneficiary NGO. These partnerships enable PIIMA to work through the approved channels to assist in procuring urgently needed medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, cylinders and other such items, in aid of those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in India.
PIIMA is also providing managerial assistance in sourcing, procuring and shipping material, in conjunction with the Singapore Red Cross, UWB-Swasth and other on-ground partners in India and Singapore, and suppliers globally. Such efforts do not involve the raising or managing of any funds, and are restricted to connecting the parties.
Step 1: Source
Build robust supplier pipeline for oxygen concentrators, oxygen generators, medical cylinders, and medical supplies.
Step 2: Connect
Identify on-ground demands through various on-ground partnerships with state governments and NGOs.
Step 3: Deploy
Enable procurement (through direct or indirect funding), support logistics, and guide in deployment.
Our work
What we have achieved so far with everyone’s help
Our team has been tirelessly working and interacting with supply and demand to enable procurement and deployment.
Cylinders
Assistance in sourcing 16,000+
Generators
Assistance in sourcing 13
Concentrators
Funded and sourced by us 2,000
Assistance in sourcing 150
Impact heat map
Where our help has gone
Sourced / Connected / Purchased
Last updated on 2 June 2021
Team
Facing a problem as big as COVID-19 requires an incredible team
We’re grateful to have some of the most innovative and committed business leaders guiding this project. This initiative has been made possible by our 1,500+ alumni network in Singapore and our diverse volunteer team.
FUNDRAISING AND
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
Vandita Pant
Vivek Jain
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
AND COMMUNICATION
SOURCING
Gunjan Chaubey
Jeetan
Neha Aggarwal
Poornima Ramchandran
WEBSITE AND DESIGN
Miguel Sabella
Vernika Garg
Partners
We work with world-class partners to maximise our impact
Our partners help us extend our reach and save more lives.
Strategic
Last mile logistics
Fundraising
Logistics
On the ground partners
We are making a difference
"As the second surge of COVID started, sourcing supplies of all kinds of equipment became the biggest challenge for us. The IIM alumni in Singapore PIIMA swung into immediate action, asked us how they could help out. Within 48 hours, a small band of IIM volunteers and my team put together a plan of action, quickly identified sources of supply of Oxygen Concentrators, Cylinders and PSA units, mobilized funds from alumni and corporate donors, and tied up logistics arrangements internationally. This team helped us connect to a much larger network, quickly and more effectively than we could have on our own."
– Vini Mahajan, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Punjab
"ACT Grants is facing a herculean task when sourcing oxygenation supplies to solve the current crisis. The support from our friends at Temasek allowed us to source oxygen concentrators initially. The IIM Alumni in Singapore joined forces with us early on and has been instrumental in sourcing oxygen cylinders and PSA plants that were our next big priorities. They found cylinder suppliers in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, and moved with incredible speed to place orders, and organise shipping with help from Maersk, Temasek, Kerry Logistics and the Indian High Commission. With their relationships and ingenuity, they even found us 8 PSA plants in Turkey. They have become a go-to partner for ACT in terms of reliability, speed and execution. Having business leaders who combine Singaporean precision with Indian innovation working with us gives us tremendous leverage. Thank you to the team"
– Sandeep Singhal of ACT Grants
"Swasth (along with ACT Grants and other partners) is trying to source 50,000 concentrators to bring into India urgently, out of the total demand of 400,000 units that have been logged into our system by district administrations, hospitals and clinics all over India. Our biggest problem is sourcing and procuring them fast. The supply and pricing situation is chaotic with hourly fluctuations. We started working with the IIM alumni in Singapore 3 weeks ago. Since then, they have found new sources of supplies, helped us place order and keep prices as stable as possible. The Singapore IIM alumni have an incredible network, a strong bias for action and have provided us with a tremendous amount of managerial expertise in creating an end to end supply chain."
– Ajay Nair, CEO of Swasth App
"My team was first contacted by the Pan IIM Alumni around the end of April to work together on responding to the Covid19 crisis in India. In the last few days, the IIM alumni alone had raised $1.5M from amongst its community, that was channelled through the Red Cross. Just as importantly, they have also helped to identify and source 2500 concentrators, 1000s of cylinders and other equipment from places like China, as well as assisted the logistics and coordination. This collaboration has helped to accelerate the delivery of equipment to India by Singapore Red Cross. The PAN IIM alumni team has brought value beyond just raising funds and we are grateful for this collaboration."
– Benjamin J William, Chairman Red Cross Singapore
FAQ
Frequently asked questions and more
Who is PIIMA?
The Pan IIM Alumni Association (PIIMA) Singapore was set up to enable the exchange of thought and ideas with the Singapore business and professional community and amongst themselves. Singapore is home to more than 1,500 IIM alumni, probably the largest single city presence outside of India.
Where are the funds being deployed?
The funds generated are being used to procure medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, and ventilators to directly support patients and healthcare workers in hospitals. This is in partnership with the Singapore Red Cross.
How have funds been raised?
1. Fund-raising in Singapore: Campaign on Giving.sg in partnership with Singapore Red Cross (SRC). SRC with their on the ground partner the Indian Red Cross Society (“IRCS”), is coordinating humanitarian contributions in Singapore, under their FRFCP (Fund Raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes) approval. PIIMA has entered into an agreement with the SRC.
2. Fund-raising in India: Campaign on Milaap platform with United Way Bengaluru (UWB) as the beneficiary NGO. PIIMA Singapore has received FRFCP approval from the Commissioner of Charities (Permit No. 0023/2021) for this fundraising in support of UWB and Swasth (Digital Health Foundation).
These partnerships enable PIIMA to work through the approved channels to assist in procuring urgently needed medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, cylinders and other such items, in aid of those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in India. PIIMA is also providing managerial assistance in sourcing, procuring and shipping material, in conjunction with the Singapore Red Cross, UWB-Swasth and other on-ground partners in India and Singapore, and suppliers globally. Such efforts do not involve the raising or managing of any funds, and are restricted to connecting the parties.
Contact us
Deepika Deshpande, Secretary (deepika.deshpande@iimalumni.sg)
Ashoke, Treasurer (ashoke.sengupta@iimalumni.sg)