IITians launch India’s first community based card to promote inclusive growth

Honourable Sheriff Indu Sahani is the first member of the card with a noble cause

IITians launch India's first community based card for a social cause

Mumbai Community Card could potentially redirect Rs.2200 Crores of the Urban Mumbai’s purchasing power to generate Rs.11 Crores for Non-Profit organisations in the next 2 years

19^th March, Mumbai: Two young entrepreneurs and former IITians, Nikhil Dhoka and Amit Kumar have launched India’s first community based program called Mumbai Community Card. This card endeavours to make donations to NGOs as simple as shopping for ourselves! Every time a card holder shops, books a ticket or buys groceries from a partner merchant a small amount is donated to the underprivileged. The program has been launched all over Mumbai city and aims to assure inclusive growth and benefits to all entities in the society.

The unique model of the card offers discounts to consumers for shopping at partner merchant outlets or using the helpline to avail a variety of convenience services like food ordering, repairing appliances, paying utility bills, sending gifts etc. It directs a part of that discount to various social causes. Community Card Director, Nikhil Dhoka says, “We are creating a system that works at the grassroots level to shift consumer rupee towards products and services that support the social, economic and ecological health of local communities.”

The card endeavors to help the underprivileged kids and will also help participating local merchants to sustain competition posed by mushrooming malls and foreign retailers. The Card has been receiving around 120 requests daily for membership and merchant partnerships though it had not been officially launched until today. It has already enrolled merchants like Bread Talk, Bistro Grill, Utsav, Bowl House, KiinKon Roccs etc. In the first year of its operation Mumbai Community Card along with participating merchants aims to donate Rs.7 Lakhs to CRY.

Honourable Sheriff Indu Sahani who is the first card holder of the programme says, “It is commendable to see such social enterprises in the city which help the underprivileged in a substantial and sustainable way. The benefit of uniting the merchants, consumers and the society for a social cause is tremendous as demonstrated by this IITian effort. ”

Of the partnership, Puja Marwaha, CEO, CRY, says, “The Mumbai Community Card-CRY tie up makes it possible for people from all walks of life to make a difference to the rights of India’s children in different ways. This is an initiative that enables citizens to contribute to ensuring rights for all children.”

Dhoka and Kumar aim to expand this program through tie ups with various corporate and educational institutions. The program will also be launched in other Indian cities like Delhi, Pune, and Ahmedabad.