Indian Cultural Association of Northwest Arkansas

The state of Kerala also called “God's Own Country” in southern part of India, is currently under a state of emergency due to heavy floods and landslides formed because of torrential monsoon rains. All the 14 districts in Kerala are under RED ALERT and this crisis has already taken nearly 350 + lives and over 300,000 stranded without access to basic needs.

https://youtu.be/NhJ84re8_Es 

More than 375,000 people have lost their home, belongings and are now living in temporary shelters. Several people are still trapped under mud and fallen buildings. You can read the live updates in English here: India Times News Outlet (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-floods-live-updates-situation-serious-in-many-districts/liveblog/65403405.cms)

We, in association with ICANWA, are organizing this fundraising from NWA and USA to assist the need in Kerala. Please note ICANWA is the cultural arm of the local non-profit HANWA and they share the same 501(c)(3) status, so their names may be shown interchangeably. 

Total estimated damage (as of 8/17) is Rs.20000 Crores i.e. over 2.8 billion US dollars and this will rise in the future days as the rains are continuing. Indian Navy, Army and Air force are involved in the rescue operations. Please contribute even the smallest possible amount and we will personally make sure that 100% of it gets to the State’s Chief Minister Disaster Relief Fund. 

Let us join as one country in support of our fellow brothers and sisters and pull Kerala out of this adversity.

NOTE: This ICANWA fund raiser is linked to the HANWA non-profit from which we will either
(a) WIRE it directly through a Non-Profit Organization that is registered in both USA and India to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund or
(b) WIRE it directly to the Kerala CMDRF if tax rules allow it
(c) Personally hand over the check on behalf of each one of you contributing to this national level effort.
We will consult the appropriate CPAs before the transfer and then post proof of transfer here on this page.

If you have any questions, please reach out to

Sreekumar Gopinathan, Phone: [phone redacted],
Email: [email redacted]

Anoop Prasanna, Phone: [phone redacted],
Email: [email redacted]

Vineeth Balakrishnan Pillai, Phone: [phone redacted],
Email: [email redacted]

Thilak Sriram, Phone: [phone redacted],
Email: [email redacted]

Shyju Wilson, Phone: [phone redacted],
Email: [email redacted]

Cyclone Titli relief fund:

Cyclone Titli  took livelihood of people as it uprooted thousands of hectares of coconut, cashew and mango trees, and now their future is uncertain. The local government bodies are estimating that it might take eight to ten years to get their livelihood back on track.

ICANWA (Indian Cultural Association of NW Arkansas)  in coordination with NWA Aashraya is raising funds to provide the basic ration items required by the cyclone Titli affected families. Each kit cost about $18. There are thousands of family out there need your support.

For additional information, please reach out to:

1. Ramana Bagadi; Tel: [phone redacted]; email: [email redacted]
2. Murali Kudapa; Tel: [phone redacted]; email: [email redacted]
3. Ravi Kandasamy; Tel:  [phone redacted]; email: [email redacted]
4: Khadar Reddy Boyapalli; Tel: [phone redacted]; eamil: [email redacted]