Dear Members,
As you are aware, many students and jobseeker visa holders have been stranded due
to the current shut down. INDCC, the umbrella organization of the Indian Associations in Berlin has set up a Covid-19 fund to assist such persons, especially the students who do not have any means of subsistence. A flyer containing the details has been posted at the facebook page of INDCC.

Mainly we provide food aid, which contains a package of fixed food items purchased from the Spice Village worth € 25 along with a value coupon for € 25 from Edeka for purchase of items which are not available in Spice village. Spice village gives us 20% rebate for these purchases. According to our estimate this should help a student to tide
over for a month. Every student or needy person who approaches the INDCC will be required to submit a formal application along with supporting documents, financial details and bank balance. Each application is scrutinized by a Review Committee which consists of 10 persons.

In my capacity as President, I am representing the Kerala Cultural Association in the
Review Committee which consists of 10 persons. We examine each application very carefully on the basis of a set of criteria and decide who is eligible and who is not. Additional documents are sought wherever needed. So far we have provided food aid to about than 40 needy students. The entire action is carried out with the cooperation of the Indian Embassy as well as the Indian Associations in the area of the jurisdiction of the Indian Embassy. The Embassy would reimburse 50% of the money disbursed by INDCC. Further details are available at the face book page of the INDCC.

You are requested not only to contribute generously but also to campaign for funds
so that maximum number of persons in distress can be assisted.

Best regards,
Xavier Kalarickal