Co-ops unite to provide £100,000 of support for India’s Covid crisis

Ten retail co-ops have come together to provide emergency supplies in response to the Covid crisis in India.

A total of £100,000 was donated via Ahmedabad, Gujarat-based Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), the co-operative federation which works with 106 women’s co-ops, enabling them to provide a sustainable livelihood for female workers.

The funds provided supplies – including masks, paracetamol and oxygen – as well as supporting Indian co-ops to restart their businesses after lockdown. In addition, they also provided lifesaving information about the symptoms and spread of Covid-19 to families in rural and low income urban areas – to dispel myths and provide accurate health information.

The emergency response was co-ordinated by Co-operatives UK and the Co-operative College, who worked together as part of the International Working Group to collect and co-ordinate the donations from The Co-op Group, Midcounties Co-op, Central England Co-op, Scotmid, Lincolnshire Co-op, Southern Co-op, East of England Co-op, Channel Islands Co-op, Chelmsford Star Co-op, Heart of England Co-op and Co-op News.

“This is true co-operation in action, with some of the largest co-ops in the UK collaborating to provide financial support and solidarity to co-ops on the other side of the world. Our global co-operative movement is based on values and principles that are as strong today as they ever were,” Rose Marley, chief executive of Co-operatives UK ,said.

Mirai Chatterjee, chairperson of SEWA Cooperative Federation, said: “Our country is now slowly coming out of the health emergency, but we are now staring in the face of a huge livelihood and humanitarian crisis.

“Workers and families have been busy with the health emergency but now they are extremely anxious about how they can restore their livelihoods and that’s where your contribution and your support to us has been critical.”

Pete Westall, chief values officer at the Midcounties Co-operative, commented: “This response demonstrates our co-operative values in action, and I’m delighted to hear of the positive impact it is already having on communities in India. By working hand-in-hand with co-operatives across the UK and in partnership with SEWA, we have been able to provide significant sustainable support to some of those most in need and make a real genuine difference.”