Meet 'Bengaluru Hudugaru', a volunteering team helping auto drivers to register for financial aid on the government portal

The team, 'Bengaluru Hudugaru' helps the drivers by registering them on the Seva Sindhu portal so that the COVID-19 relief amount announced for them by the government may easily reach their bank accounts.

The existence of the digital divide in India cannot be undermined where a lot of people still do not have the access to mobile phones and internet connectivity. Considering this as a major problem for the underprivileged beneficiaries of the relief packages announced by the government, 'Bengaluru Hudugaru', a volunteering team, is helping auto drivers with online registration.

According to a COVID-19 relief package worth Rs 1,250 crore announced by the Karnataka government, Rs 3,000 was decided for every auto, taxi, and cab driver. However, it was made important to register on the Seva Sindu app to obtain the amount. The volunteering team, thus, got into action to help those drivers who do not have the knowledge to register themselves.

"The initiative aims to ensure that the relief package reaches the right beneficiaries which generally does not, due to the lack of information or devices," Manoj Nandeeshappa, a co-founder of the team says.

The team consisting of 50 people has divided themselves into three groups operating at Majestic railway station, Yashwantpura market, and RR Nagar Arch. "Our team members go to these places since many auto drivers are easily found here," Mr. Nandeeshappa says.

He also says that the team members use their phones to register the drivers to avoid the spread of COVID-19. "We register the drivers from our phones after verifying the information from their identity cards and other documents," he adds.

Almost 250 drivers have received help from the Bengaluru-based team as of now. Initially, Vinod Kartavya, who works at Defense Research Development Organisation (DRDO), and Prem Kumar had helped drivers get registered for the Rs 5,000 relief fund announced in 2020. "They had started helping people in the first lockdown. However, it was only after the formation of 'Bengaluru Hudugaru' by Mr. Katavya that we were able to help more people this time," Mr. Nandeeshappa says.

Campaigns for the society

Started as a community on November 15, 2020, the team has also been working for other causes. "Our first campaign was motivated towards protecting the trees from the posters and other papers affixed on them," he told.

After the first campaign, 'Nail Free Tree', the team also initiated other campaigns like 'Tobacco-Free Minors'. Moreover, the team had distributed around 12,500 food packets to people in the second lockdown along with providing medical kits to the people.

Also Read: From distributing food to ration kits, this is how Aakansha Sadekar from Pune is helping frontline workers, sex workers, and the needy!

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