<p>The government on Thursday reactivated its network of nonprofits and volunteer groups to help citizens deal with the second Covid-19 wave. </p>.<p>As part of this, the government has invited citizens to enrol as volunteers in the effort managed by senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan. She was picked by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to lead the government’s effort to liaise with the private sector during the pandemic last year. </p>.<p>“We have a network of 200 large nonprofits. Shortly, we’re getting details of NGOs in districts also, as the existing network is present in and around Bengaluru,” Uma, the panchayat raj secretary, told <em>DH</em>. </p>.<p>“The sudden surge (in Covid-19 cases) has taken everybody off guard,” she said.</p>.<p>“If we create a hyper-local list, that will come in handy in helping people. That's how we build community.”</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-to-order-1-crore-doses-of-covishield-covid-19-vaccine-977318.html" target="_blank">Karnataka to order 1 crore doses of Covishield Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong></p>.<p>By putting together a list of volunteers, Uma said, the government will coordinate requests for help, with offers of help.</p>.<p>“We have received requests for volunteers to work at the government’s oxygen call centre,” she pointed out.</p>.<p>“On vaccinations, for example, there might be senior citizens living alone and someone may volunteer to help them out. All these needs are evolving,” she said.</p>.<p>Apparently, volunteers are already coming forward to cook free meals for those affected by the pandemic. </p>.<p>The government has opened an online application form, asking interested citizens to enrol for on-ground or remote volunteering work. </p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/how-to-register-for-covid-19-vaccine-for-above-18s-everything-you-need-to-know-977275.html" target="_blank">How to register for Covid-19 vaccine for above 18s: Everything you need to know</a></strong></p>.<p>“For on-ground work, we want people to be generally in good health and already vaccinated,” Uma said. </p>.<p>Last year, overwhelmed by the response from civil society groups and nonprofits, the government came up with a portal called 'Sankalpa' to coordinate relief efforts during the pandemic.</p>.<p>“Last year, we were able to achieve a lot of work on the ground in terms of improving health infrastructure and relief efforts,” the officer said. </p>.<p>Citizens interested in volunteering for Covid-19 can register at bit.ly/GoKVolunteer. </p>
<p>The government on Thursday reactivated its network of nonprofits and volunteer groups to help citizens deal with the second Covid-19 wave. </p>.<p>As part of this, the government has invited citizens to enrol as volunteers in the effort managed by senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan. She was picked by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to lead the government’s effort to liaise with the private sector during the pandemic last year. </p>.<p>“We have a network of 200 large nonprofits. Shortly, we’re getting details of NGOs in districts also, as the existing network is present in and around Bengaluru,” Uma, the panchayat raj secretary, told <em>DH</em>. </p>.<p>“The sudden surge (in Covid-19 cases) has taken everybody off guard,” she said.</p>.<p>“If we create a hyper-local list, that will come in handy in helping people. That's how we build community.”</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-to-order-1-crore-doses-of-covishield-covid-19-vaccine-977318.html" target="_blank">Karnataka to order 1 crore doses of Covishield Covid-19 vaccine</a></strong></p>.<p>By putting together a list of volunteers, Uma said, the government will coordinate requests for help, with offers of help.</p>.<p>“We have received requests for volunteers to work at the government’s oxygen call centre,” she pointed out.</p>.<p>“On vaccinations, for example, there might be senior citizens living alone and someone may volunteer to help them out. All these needs are evolving,” she said.</p>.<p>Apparently, volunteers are already coming forward to cook free meals for those affected by the pandemic. </p>.<p>The government has opened an online application form, asking interested citizens to enrol for on-ground or remote volunteering work. </p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/how-to-register-for-covid-19-vaccine-for-above-18s-everything-you-need-to-know-977275.html" target="_blank">How to register for Covid-19 vaccine for above 18s: Everything you need to know</a></strong></p>.<p>“For on-ground work, we want people to be generally in good health and already vaccinated,” Uma said. </p>.<p>Last year, overwhelmed by the response from civil society groups and nonprofits, the government came up with a portal called 'Sankalpa' to coordinate relief efforts during the pandemic.</p>.<p>“Last year, we were able to achieve a lot of work on the ground in terms of improving health infrastructure and relief efforts,” the officer said. </p>.<p>Citizens interested in volunteering for Covid-19 can register at bit.ly/GoKVolunteer. </p>
