In a unique initiative, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneurial couple announced the launch of their self-funded NGO, ‘NEW INDIA’ on Wednesday and committed Rs 200 crores for the underprivileged.
Actor Emraan Hashmi was the chief guest on the occasion.
The couple – Vijay Tata and his wife Amrita, have been sheltering 40 children for six years and their intention to give back to society grew stronger with time.
As the first initiative, 50 acres of land worth Rs 100 crores has been pledged in Attibele-Anekal Road to the NEW INDIA charitable trust. Another Rs 100 crores will be used towards construction of a super-specialty cancer care hospital. All underprivileged cancer patients from across India will be given free treatment. The trust claims that this will be the first cashless hospital across India.
Inaugurating the NGO, actor Emraan Hashmi said, “I have very closely seen the pain which cancer patients and their families go through. NEW INDIA’s initiative to create new hope for poor cancer patients is worth appreciating and I am glad that individuals like Mr Vijay Tata and Mrs Amrita Tata are coming forward to take this novel step.”
It may be recalled that Emraan Hashmi’s son was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 when he was four years old. Hashmi went on to co-author a book titled The Kiss of Life - How A Superhero and My Son Defeated Cancer in 2016, tracing the entire period from when the cancer was first detected in his child, up to his recovery and cancer-free years.
“A small step can transform into a milestone and development is always bottom-up. Our honourable PM’s vision on healthcare for all inspired me. Our major thrust today is to work for improving the life of our people who are below poverty line. The need of the hour is to give proper guidance and free timely treatment to them. NEW INDIA is a national movement and underprivileged cancer patients across India will be treated free of cost,” said Vijay Tata.
The hospital consisting of 150 beds will be completed in different phases. The initial phase will be ready by December 2018. It promises to house state-of-the-art infrastructure with renowned oncologists and consultants on board. The entire hospital project will be designed by a UK-based Architect and Engineering firm called BDP.
The NGO aims to work together with partners and local communities in various parts of India at the grassroot level to understand the key issues. The NGO is open for collaboration with local NGOs and volunteers across India to make this a mass movement.
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