Calling All Believers In Goodness To BeGood #ForManipur

Start-up social initiative BeGood is all set to conduct #ForManipur, a COVID relief fund-raiser for the north-eastern State of Manipur, on July 2, 2021 on the Paytm Insider platform. The exclusively curated event, third in the series after BeGood #ForHer and BeGood #ForEarth, aims to bring together people, unified by purpose and music, to promote the cause of COVID relief efforts and awareness for Manipur, which is struggling hard to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 16 renowned artistes from the north-eastern States and other parts of India have come forward to support the BeGood #ForManipur fund-raiser, part of the larger initiative ‘Care for Manipur’, to aid COVID relief work in the State. The artistes include singer-songwriters Ankur Tewari, Anoushka Maskey, singer Asees Kaur, singer-guitarist duo Bipul Chettri and Pranai Gurung, rock band Delhi Indie Project, Naga folk connoisseur Guru Rewben Mashangva, singer-songwriter Jasleen Aulakh, Manipur’s own singer-songwriter-performer John Oinam Ft Kennedy, singer-songwriter Kamakshi Khanna of ‘Qareeb’ fame, Manipuri folk and fusion artiste Mangka, pioneer rock band Parikrama, vocalist, bass guitarist and composer Rahul Ram of Indian Ocean, Singer-song-writer Seev Ft. Sara, Kolkata-based multi-instrumentalist Tajdar Junaid, Naga quartet the Tetseo Sisters, and singer-music composer Zubeen Garg from Assam.

As the rest of the country sees the COVID-19 wave begin to recede marginally, smaller States like Manipur in the North-east still remain the worst affected. Like the rest of India, Manipur faces huge challenges due to inadequate medical infrastructure, shortage of healthcare personnel and COVID-care facilities in the face of the magnitude of the pandemic. Especially for Manipur, transportation and logistics continue to be major bottlenecks as the State is not yet on the railway map of India.

According to a ‘Care for Manipur’ (CFM) spokesperson, “Care For Manipur started off as a bunch of people from diverse communities, professions and geographies who connected over their love for the State. It has evolved into a not-for-profit group and is presently engaged in COVID relief work in the State. CFM has come together to save lives during the pandemic with medical supplies and monetary aid. We hope to raise Rs 1 crore by July 10, and use it to deliver oxygen cylinders, concentrators and other medical equipment, besides setting up ICU beds at facilities in Manipur.”

Poonam Lal, Initiator, BeGood

Commenting on why BeGood chose Manipur for its new chapter this year, Poonam Lal, founder of the social initiative, says, “There are strong emotional ties and nostalgia since I was born in Manipur and I grew up there. Personally, for me, there couldn’t be a better way to give back to the State! Also, music is a given, because it transcends boundaries and has a universality. In fact, music is in the soul of the north-eastern States.”

“Our many COVID relief efforts elsewhere led us to connect with this initiative in Manipur, run by some good people. The fund-raiser thought just took off and before we knew it, we had an amazing line-up of artistes who were excited to help. They reiterated our belief that at the core of goodness is inclusivity, compassion and kindness. That is what stood out as this project came to life,” she added.

BeGood #ForManipur is an appeal to people to look beyond their diverse worlds and come together to support the COVID relief fund-raiser, to help the initiative help Manipur battle the pandemic effectively. “As they say, goodness is the only investment that never fails. It is time that we come together as one, to help in whatever way we can, firm in the belief that kindness and goodness can greatly help heal the world,” says a BeGood communique.

Keeping the conversation completely non-political, BeGood and Care for Manipur have called on people who have roots in Manipur as well as those who are yet to explore the State to donate generously for the cause.

Join this crucial fund-raiser on July 2, 2021, 7 pm onwards. Booking open on Paytm Insider (https://insider.in/be-good-formanipur--jul2-2021/event).

For more information, please log on to begoodtribe.com and careformanipur.org.