Mumbai: Canada India Foundation (CIF) launched meal campaign “Thank You” for needy people amid Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown says Mr.Anil Shah, Chairperson of CIF

Group picture of Team Member. Picture of meal distribution by CIF during lockdown.

Mr.Anil shah chairperson CIF launched this campaign with his team.

Mumbai: CIF runs meal programme “Thank You” says Mr.Anil Shah, Chairperson, Canada India Foundation Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Canada,

Mumbai: Even as Covid-19 looms, it has brought a new threat and has already battered many countries.

For more than thousands people more so children are living through conflict or in some most fragile places, with limited access to essential services posing a sad daily reality.

Speaking to Hello Mumbai News Team, Anil Shah says, people around the world are battling the crisis. Now it’s been more than six months that our mother earth has been encountering this crisis. Even as many people recovered, many perished and still many are being affected with Coronavirus.

Under such an ordeal situation Canada India foundation (CIF) played a big role. CIF has sleflessly done such a big task. They have been a great hand of help.

He further elaborated that the Canada India Foundation is a Canadian Non-profit organization established in 2007. The main stated objective of CIF comprises promoting Canada-India relations through their active intervention in public policy which would cover domestic policies and bi-lateral issues affecting the Indo-Canadian community, including issues such as culture, education, trade and investment, immigration, diplomatic, political, and strategic relations.

During this pandemic CIF has done alot for people. They have donated food, donated masks, facials and much more. CIF has also started a website to help the one in need.

Mr. Anil Shah is currently the Chairperson of Canada India Foundation (CIF). He has played many roles in his career life. CEO of Ni-met Metals Inc. a large nickel and alloys trading and supply house with multiple associated offices globally with headquarters in Canada, and a scrap processing facility in Italy.
He served on the board of The Trillium Hospital group (A consortium of several large hospitals in Ontario) and has chaired the Trillium Diwali Gala twice in the last decade, raising large amount of funds for the benefit of the hospital.

A golf fanatic, Anil has chaired the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) Golf Tournament for 13 years and raised funds for the ICCC building fund. Similarly, he has also raised funds for the families of fallen soldiers in Canada and India through the Canada India Foundation (CIF) Golf Tournaments for the past three years. He is the past recipient of the prestigious ICCC President’s Award and served the Chamber on its advisory board. Anil was Co-Chair of the 2014 CIF Award Gala, Chair for the past three years.

Hello Mumbai News Team felt lucky enough to interview this great personality. We got a chance to interact with the chairperson of Canada India Foundation Mr. Anil Shah over a call. While interacting with the international correspondent of Hello Mumbai News Mr. Anil said that, one cannot distinguish between communities. There cannot be different future for different communities. Canada is built up of different migrants (Indians, Shrilankans, Pakisthanis, Nepalies, French, etc). Canada has taken good care of everything. They have subsidized all of the work, so in comparison with other countries we are far better. As far as it is concerned about future, Canada has a good future like any other country. They are hoping that everything will be fine the crisis is there in every country, for everyone, so future is same for all. It’s not like only Native Indians are facing crisis there, all are facing crisis. They think that Canada has taken care of all the citizens, of all the card holders, and all the ones reciting within the country. International students and temporary residents are also getting certain benefits.

Unlike India the workers here are not going back to their homeland. Canada is their home; in India labourers are walking miles to reach back home. This is not the case at Canada. He said that, domestic transport is available. People are able to move in and out; only as long as they are not affected by COVID-19.

Canada India Foundation (CIF) is playing a big role. They have started a website www.covid19-help.ca to help the one in need. They worked with Hindu Federation (Federation of 18 temples at Canada). Ram Mandir took the lead. They agreed to cook, serve cooked food, repacking of the groceries bought in bulk. CIF took the charge of financing everything. The groceries purchased in bulk are packed in small packages and were delivered to the international students and senior citizens. They also provided medical help.

They expanded. They partnered with an Indian restaurant Tamrin. With the help of restaurant they carried out a meal program for the frontline workers. They call it as THANK YOU MEAL. These meals are pre-packed in an individual container having chole, a paneer item, mixed vegetable, rice, salad and one gulab jamun. CIF started with one or two hospitals but now the act is becoming so huge that by 8th June 2020, they will have served 11,000 meals. They did Toronto police 950 meals, Peel region police 450 meals, multiple hospitals were served; some took 200 some took 800 meals. They also served at Long Term Care, 400 meals. They also donated masks, facial, and gloves to 3 hospitals.

When our reporter asked about other charity work done by CIF he said that, some Indian residents visited Canada as tourists and got stuck here due to lockdown. One girl visited Canada as tourist from Mysore and she got stranded and all her money was blown away. They came to know about her from Indian Consulate. Then Mr. Anil called up one of his friend who owns a hotel at Canada and made there the arrangements for the girl’s stay. Everyday Ram Mandir provided her free meals. There was another Indian Family from Pondicherry stuck at Canada. Reason to visit Canada was same. They stayed at a church there for 7 days when CIF came to know about them they did the same for them too. Made stay arrangements at the hotel and provided free meals.

When our reporter enquired about any suggestions for Indian or Canadian Government so he said, “Everyone is doing their best. Whether it is in India PM Narendra Modi is taking actions as per times need, same thing is our PM our government doing. Both are doing their best. Who am I to suggest? I am just a small group called CIF. We are doing our bits they are doing theirs.”

When Mr. Anil was asked about the future plans of promoting CIF, he sharing their plan, he said, “We will be soon launching

CIF’s Indian Chapter. It is almost ready only certain documentations need to be done. We have already found 2 gentlemen who will be the Chairperson and national convener of the organization and soon you will hear more about CIF in India. As far as it is concerned about the Canadian organization our future plans are to continue with this food bank donation with the same restaurant, and we are planning to provide atleast 2,000 meals a month on long term basis during and after COVID. CIF is always there to help.”

So this is how Mr. Anil Shah Shared his experience with us and said that the future of all communities is the same, domestic transport is working, THANK YOU meals are provided to all. Basically, Canada India Foundation is ready to help the one who needs their help.

News Report by: Ashmita Chhabria

News Edit by K.V.Raman

The post Mumbai: Canada India Foundation (CIF) launched meal campaign “Thank You” for needy people amid Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown says Mr.Anil Shah, Chairperson of CIF appeared first on Hello Mumbai News.