Hello,

Hopefully this finds you in good health and I sincerely hope that you and your
family are safe. We are living in exceptionally turbulent times and as we are all
aware, the pandemic coupled with the havoc wrecked by the super cyclone will
have long-term and drastic effects on our economy. One of the most hard-hitting
realities of the situation is the fact that companies are being forced to reduce
their workforce rendering countless talented men and women jobless. A study
has revealed that more than 27 million Indians have lost their jobs because of the
unexpected economic crisis brought about by COVID 19.
But I am a sincere believer in the power of hope and I feel that it is the need of
the hour for us to think of ways to fight back and make the best of this bleak
situation. I have been contemplating about the idea of a NGO or a collective that
can successfully empower this talented pool of recently unemployed human
resources and their existing skill sets. The idea is to identify and work with
talented and skilled individuals who might be interested in utilizing their
knowledge to open small-scale businesses. These businesses will focus on the
demands of the present market economy and will be launched keeping in mind
the changing circumstances. For example, a talented textile designer might be
happy to open a small production unit which manufactures cheap masks. We
already have seen successful examples of perfume companies using their
factories to manufacture sanitizers. We will closely work with these skilled
individuals to launch their entrepreneurial ventures and will in turn connect them
to other talented individuals who are experienced to take care of aspects such as
sales and marketing. Common business aspects such as accounting and legal
consultancy can always be outsourced, reducing the problem of “hiring”
employees at the onset. We will provide them guidance in the process through
experienced mentors because some of these individuals might be entering the
world of entrepreneurship for the first time. We would focus on helping people
become self-sufficient, form successful business ventures using their existing skills
instead of running from pillar to post looking for a new job.

This idea is at an absolutely nascent stage and I am presently looking for exploring
collaboration with like-minded individuals so that we can bring this idea to
fruition together. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and discuss this in
detail at a mutually convenient time. I am confident that with ventures such as
these, we will able to find the much-needed glimmer of light in these dark hours.
Let us stand united and face this adversity with our sheer determination to
survive despite all the odds. Looking forward to hearing from you.