Mumbai: Help pours in for heroes who gave up their oxygen

After mid-day highlighted Rozy and Pascal Saldanha’s efforts, couple gets Rs 33 lakh from do-gooders; promises to use it for others

In two weeks since mid-day reported about the big-hearted Malvani couple’s contribution to the city’s battle against Covid-19, help has poured in for the Saldanhas. Do-gooders from across India have raised lakhs via an online crowdfunding platform, while many individuals have even transferred money directly to them. Rozy, a dialysis patient, and her husband Pascal not only gave away their own oxygen cylinder but also bought more after selling their jewellery, and saved the lives of eight others.

Pascal Saldanha, pictured in April, with the oxygen cylinders he procured to donate to people. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Ketto, the online crowdfunding platform, has targeted to raise Rs 50 lakh so that the Saldanhas can continue their social cause. mid-day had reported about the couple on April 22 and towards the end of that month, Ketto approached them to help raise funds. Within days, Ketto has managed to raise over Rs 31.3 lakh.

After reading mid-day’s story, an executive from Ketto contacted the reporter to reach out to the Saldanhas. “The executive checked every minute facts mentioned in the mid-day report. After verification, they started working on crowdfunding in the last leg of April,” Pascal told mid-day. “Once the target is complete, the money will be transferred to my account,” he said.

Based on mid-day’s report, a media website, too, contacted the Saldanhas and with their permission, published their bank account details with their story. Soon, individuals from across the country transferred whatever they could to the couple’s bank account, and it totalled to approximately Rs 1.5 lakh. Pascal said he wants to buy oxygen-equipped ambulances and dialysis kits and medicines to help people who can’t afford them.

“In the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, we have been reading heart-wrenching news about patients and relatives being exploited by ambulance owners who are charging them.  I have planned to purchase ambulances to give free services to Covid-19 patients,” he said.

Pascal underlined that they have spent nearly Rs 2 crore in the past five years on Rozy’s dialysis, and that he understands that nor “everybody can afford the medical treatment of dialysis.”

“In the past few years, I have seen poor patients suffer because they cannot buy dialysis kits and medicines. That is why, I have planned to use the fund to purchase dialysis kits and medicines and distribute them to people who are incapable to buy for themselves, mostly poor,” he said.

Pascal has plans to help people who have gone bankrupt after undergoing Covid-19 treatment at private hospitals, which overcharges. He has also planned to purchase 30 oxygen canisters and its kits for donation to the needy. 

Ketto CEO and co-founder Varun Sheth told mid-day, “We were touched and inspired by Pascal’s story. He is setting an extraordinary example for society. When we read their story, we related to the cause and the challenges faced by him and as a result, helped them to set up a campaign on our platform Ketto.org. The campaign has received tremendous support and in less than 10 days, we have raised over Rs 30 lakh.”

Rs 31L
Approx amount raised on Ketto

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!