By Lancelot Joseph. Executive Editor, Business India

In July 2020, the Ghatkopar-based (a Mumbai suburb) NGO, Veer Foundation, received appreciation from the Governor of Maharashtra for serving food to migrant workers, senior citizens and the differently-abled, and sanitising more than 20,000 societies, hospitals, BMC ambulances, public transportation vehicles and offices from the beginning of April, 2020 till date. Some of the large societies sanitised include CISF unit, MBPT Mumbai, and Central government employees’ residents’ welfare association Antop Hill, Mumbai (which is Asia's largest housing colony). The entire sanitation drive including the chemicals used and the machines were provided free of cost by Veer Foundation.

“We are happy to receive appreciation from the Governor of Maharashtra. This gives us strength and motivation to serve the society during this pandemic. The current medical oxygen cylinder supply of these centres operates 24x7 in view of the fact that positive cases have peaked. As per various articles, if timely medical oxygen is provided, fatalities can be avoided. All the centres which are currently offering free sanitisation and oxygen cylinder supplies are doing all this on an honourary basis with no expectations, but just to serve mankind,” says the 63-year-old Nitin Sanghavi, trustee of Veer Foundation, which is promoted by the family of  the BSE-listed Nitin Fire Protection Industries Ltd (NFPIL) which has emerged as one of the leading players of fire protection systems in India, with an existence in the fire protection space for 29 years.

NFPIL has expanded its foothold not only in India but also in the UAE, South Asia and Europe. The company offers a diversified portfolio of fire protection systems with annual sales of over $110 million. “Our customer focus is to protect the world with our national and international range of approved products. We are on a constant lookout for enhancing the portfolio to serve the world with ‘NITIE’ brand of products and work towards making a ‘fire free world’,” says 42-year-old Rahul Sanghavi, Nitin’s son.

“Veer Foundation helps humanity using the personal wealth of the trustees and we have not taken any donations. With the monsoon season, pandemic cases are rising.  We have seen a daily surge in Covid-positive cases. A few families whose members are positive have also mentioned that they are unable to get hospitalised and the currently active Covid Care Centres are not ready to accept them as many of them are above 60 years of age or their saturation is below the required normal levels,” says Rahul, pointing that these people are left with no options due to the non-availability of beds and that even rental oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators are not available or that people are taking advantage of the situation and charging  exorbitant rates for them.

 “Hence, to support these critical patients who may recover if timely oxygen is provided, the foundation has opened its Oxygen Centres for supply within Mumbai city to start with, and centres have opened, starting from Nepean Sea road in south Mumbai and stretching to Dombivali, Kalyan, Vithalwadi and Thakurli,” adds Nitin who is planning to open additional centres in the western suburbs of Mumbai. Medical oxygen cylinders, along with regulators, are provided rent-free against a refundable security deposit. It is advisable to use the same under medical supervision.