Just thought of sharing some useful information that I've found recently:
www.goonj.org/
Goonj collects your old clothes and distributes it to the needy. So, any old, unused and usable clothes piled up at your home?? this is the place.
team-samvedana.org/
Have a social corner and not knowing what to do? This team acts as a bridge between the needy and the willing.
Do share it with your friends.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Is this real development?
During the last month, I had 2 very different experiences which throw light on how ineffective the Government policies are. The subject may not be new to you, but my experiences definitely are. Read on to know more :)
I visited State Bank Of India, Moti Nagar, to open a new savings account. I had to spend almost 4 hours to do the same. I don't blame any inefficiency of the bank here .. it was just that there are a lot of customers in queue and little staff :)
The rule was this: one should maintain 1200/- minimum balance in the account at all times; initial payment while opening the account would be 5000/- and you will get a cheque book, atm card etc in an add-on kit. The 5000 that is paid will be deposited as it is in your account and later u can choose to withdraw that, subject to the minimum balance requirement.
One person in queue started arguing with the bank executive that he is not interested in having all the add-ons and would want his account to be opened with just the 1200. I was surprised initially. He could have paid 5000Rs, taken all the add-ons and the very next day, he could have withdrawn 3800. Out of gr8 curiosity I've asked him why couldn't he do that. To which he replied, "Sir, I am an assistant at the church situated down the street. I work hard each day to make my bread. If I really had 5000/- with me I would have certainly done that." I felt very stupid for having asked him that question. In no corner of my mind, I had this thought that he wouldn't be having this required amount. I felt very sorry for him.
Coming to the second experience. A month back Zana and I had visited her uncle's house. After chatting for a while we got to know that next day they are supposed to visit their maid's son's wedding. The maid politely came and asked if Zana and I can also make it for the wedding. I was later shocked when I heard the maid asking uncle "ayya, i am planning to purchase your ac if you wish to sell it for a lesser price." Yes .. u read it perfectly. The maid wants to have an ac for her home. Well, nothing wrong in it. A little more digging about the maid revealed that she owns 3 houses and a shopping complex as on date .. thanks to the YSR's popular Indiramma's housing scheme in which houses are given all for free to the poor.
On a closer relook at both the incidents, I thought why is she still working as a maid even after acquiring so much of property? Why the hard working person at the church couldn't maintain more than 5K balance. There is a Government actively working on upliftment of the poor. So why this difference?
As far as the maid is concerned on why she is still a maid, the optimist in me answered -- dignity of labor :) .. however that's not ture .. the reason is she chose to be a maid for her life. You give her another 3 more houses, she continues to be a maid. There will be no upliftment in her style of living. Announcing a huge list of freebies by any political party is just going to get them a few more votes and probably power, but it will not change any single life. Similarly free reservations, free power, free color tv's etc. etc. will never improve anything. Provide reservations for those worthy candidates who can make a difference. Provide free power to that farmer who did some innovative stuff to save crops. Provide a free color tv for that active women in a dwacra group. A BRAVO is meant to award and encourage an outstanding performer. But if a BRAVO is announced for each and every one, what significance does it have? What difference does it make? What is going to change?
I visited State Bank Of India, Moti Nagar, to open a new savings account. I had to spend almost 4 hours to do the same. I don't blame any inefficiency of the bank here .. it was just that there are a lot of customers in queue and little staff :)
The rule was this: one should maintain 1200/- minimum balance in the account at all times; initial payment while opening the account would be 5000/- and you will get a cheque book, atm card etc in an add-on kit. The 5000 that is paid will be deposited as it is in your account and later u can choose to withdraw that, subject to the minimum balance requirement.
One person in queue started arguing with the bank executive that he is not interested in having all the add-ons and would want his account to be opened with just the 1200. I was surprised initially. He could have paid 5000Rs, taken all the add-ons and the very next day, he could have withdrawn 3800. Out of gr8 curiosity I've asked him why couldn't he do that. To which he replied, "Sir, I am an assistant at the church situated down the street. I work hard each day to make my bread. If I really had 5000/- with me I would have certainly done that." I felt very stupid for having asked him that question. In no corner of my mind, I had this thought that he wouldn't be having this required amount. I felt very sorry for him.
Coming to the second experience. A month back Zana and I had visited her uncle's house. After chatting for a while we got to know that next day they are supposed to visit their maid's son's wedding. The maid politely came and asked if Zana and I can also make it for the wedding. I was later shocked when I heard the maid asking uncle "ayya, i am planning to purchase your ac if you wish to sell it for a lesser price." Yes .. u read it perfectly. The maid wants to have an ac for her home. Well, nothing wrong in it. A little more digging about the maid revealed that she owns 3 houses and a shopping complex as on date .. thanks to the YSR's popular Indiramma's housing scheme in which houses are given all for free to the poor.
On a closer relook at both the incidents, I thought why is she still working as a maid even after acquiring so much of property? Why the hard working person at the church couldn't maintain more than 5K balance. There is a Government actively working on upliftment of the poor. So why this difference?
As far as the maid is concerned on why she is still a maid, the optimist in me answered -- dignity of labor :) .. however that's not ture .. the reason is she chose to be a maid for her life. You give her another 3 more houses, she continues to be a maid. There will be no upliftment in her style of living. Announcing a huge list of freebies by any political party is just going to get them a few more votes and probably power, but it will not change any single life. Similarly free reservations, free power, free color tv's etc. etc. will never improve anything. Provide reservations for those worthy candidates who can make a difference. Provide free power to that farmer who did some innovative stuff to save crops. Provide a free color tv for that active women in a dwacra group. A BRAVO is meant to award and encourage an outstanding performer. But if a BRAVO is announced for each and every one, what significance does it have? What difference does it make? What is going to change?
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)