On the other hand, there are many citizens/netizens doing great things quietly. Putting their hard earned, post-tax paid money into myraid of small projects benefiting numerous nameless boys/girls/homes. These don't find much mention in any magazines/news papers. For one, the ones doing it aren't doing it for fame. Covering them in news/media isn't going to increase any TRP rating so it simply isn't news-worthy. Common man also doesn't care - well afterall, he has more to worry about rising onion/petrol prices rather than some altruism in some remote corner of the country.
Assuming you are like me, I normally give it a mouthful to the bureacracy, the politicracy. It is quite simple you see, I can find exactly what is wrong with the system and who is to be blamed. Did you say I could do something about it ? Come on! you are kidding me right ? How can I, one lone man do anything with the big bad system which we inherited from those Bloody Britishers. The whole system sucks - I can't do much. Even If I wanted do something, I'm quite buried through my ears paying my monthly EMIs, upgrading/investing for my 4 wheeler and just keeping up with inflation. I pay taxes and able to sustain my life with my family - that itself is a miracle.
This blog is not much about what I or you are doing. It is about some of those not-so-known ones, who are already doing good things. These are faint flickers of light visible in the dark gloom of rampant corruption, greed for power, bureaucratic quagmires - if you are looking.
Sahasra deepika is an organization in the outskirts of Bangalore on Bannerghatta road. Dr. T. V. Ramakrishna and his wife Vijaya started this initiative about 12 years back. This is no orphanage. Sahasra deepika has an ambitious goal of adopting abandoned/helpless toddlers and give same level of primary education as your children and mine can get. The organization is privately funded (no Govt. largesses). Read about Sahasra deepika on the link provided.
There are several other such initiatives like Parikrama
and SOS children village at local to global levels which are striving to provide level playing ground for the under-privileged children. Most of these programs are holistic in the sense, they take into account limitations with parents of such children. These are not mere start-ups but have a built-in sustenance/scalability strategy.
Now a days, Almost everyone has the awareness that education is important. Even house maids and masons try to get their children into schools and try get the best possible, budget permitting education for their wards. But after primary education, then what ?
We have numerous educational institutes for graduation. However, are they producing an output which is really employable, entrepreneurial? Do we still have antiquated systems of training (be it professional/academic) or do we have systems in place to train and develop the next generation of professionals?
I Recently visited an old friend of mine, R. Harinath who after years of corporate life is now part of Karmic and Pranjal along with Dr. S. S. Mahant Shetti. Both institutes are running in a village called Nesargi, 35 Km from Belgaum. The approach taken at these institutes is radically different from what we know as professional training. Almost all students are from rural background within 200 km radius (as far as Bagalkot). Parents of these students are typically farmers (not the rich Sugar cane cultivating types). These SSLC pass students are being trained with topics like analog electronics, VLSI design, rural engineering(power, tools, techniques), mechanics in addition to science, mathematics, philosophy. Of course, general life skills with communication, professional English is part of the curriculum. There are no exams, certification, grading or ranking. The 3 year program will be producing its first batch of graduates in the next year (2011). All the students (around 60 of them in three batches), with around 60%-40% breakup (boys and girls) are resident students. In addition to education, lodging and food costs, each student gets a stipend of 500 Rupees per month to take care of other logistics (medicine for parents, travel cost etc.). I definitely hope Mahant Shetti and Harinath's model serves as a fantastic template to empower the under-privileged, especially in the rural setup.
 | See more about Karmic/Pranjal in the accompanying photo blog |
| Nesargi - Karmic - Pranjal |
Also heartning is the approach taken by MNC eateries like Domino Pizza, McDonald, Pizza Hut in urban centers. My house-maid's son is barely SSLC pass. Being the son of parents who migrated from TN - AP border, he had major challenges clearing the 10th grade due to medium of instruction (Kannada) and general comprehension issues. He was working in a TV repair shop for 1500 rupees per month. He was interviewed/trained and hired by Domino's a few months back. In his early twenties, he now earns good enough money (around 6 K) per month, he can now do simple accounting, have good communication skills to converse with customers in multiple languages and can cook delicious pizzas !!
Another friend of mine Kiran H R, took the initiative to start a local 'giving circle' as part of GiveIndia. A few acquaintences of Kiran took part in listening to presentations from NGOs who were in need of funding. The group (of sponsors) rated the NGOs in terms of their needs, the best ROI (in term of vision, goals, practicality), the funds the group can produce and picked an NGO's initiative to fund for the next year or so. If you are the type of professional who is not just interested in donation but need accountability, metrics, progress/status reports in terms of how your 'investment' is doing, GiveIndia should provide you a way.
All in all, these days, there are quite a few flickers of hope. Rather sit on the sidelines and grumble about the game there is a chance for you and me to be a player. You and me being products of Socialism (subsidized learning, sometime in your education ) and beneficiaries of capitalism (reasonably well paying corporate jobs) now have a chance to play benefactors rather than victims of the system.
