We all have clothes lying around the house that aren’t being used anymore and could very well be given away to those who might have better use for them.

While sometimes our busy schedules may keep us from depositing the clothes, many of us probably don’t know where we could go ahead and donate them.

To help you manage your ‘to-give-away’ pile of clothes better, we have compiled a list of seven organisations where you can distribute your used clothes.

There’s a general rule of thumb when you’re thinking of donating old clothes—would you give it to a friend? If the answer is yes, then you could go right ahead. If the answer is no, because the clothes are torn, dirty or unusable, it would be better to find alternate uses/options.

Do be mindful of the clothes that you set aside for this exercise.

1. Clothes Box Foundation (CBF)

Location: Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha and Jharkhand

How does it work?

Once you have kept aside the clothes you wish you donate, you can call CBF or visit their Facebook page and leave them a message.

You can then either wait for them to pick up the clothes (the organisation provides this service at a nominal charge) or get the clothes delivered at their collection centre.

Once in, the clothes are sorted and distributed by the team at CBF. The photographs of the distribution will also be uploaded on Facebook if you wish to see them.

Contact details: You can reach their website here, Facebook page here or call them on +91-78383-71356.

2. Share At Door Step (SADS)

Location: Bengaluru. SADS also has 100 NGO partners across 8 cities and various corporate tie-ups.

How does it work?

After you have sorted out the clothes that you wish to keep aside for donation, visit the SADS website and enter your location, following which a list of NGOs in your area will appear on your screen.

Select the NGO whose requirement matches your donation and once done, add the items you wish to donate into your checkout bag and schedule a pickup.

Please note that as of now the pick-up facility is available only in Bengaluru. A convenience fee is levied depending on the number of items that you are donating. The starting rate is Rs 199. You can also choose to drop off the clothes by yourself.

Contact details: You can visit their website here, Facebook page here, or call them on
+91-88847 84742.

3. The Open House

Location: Chennai

How does it work?

In December 2015, after the Chennai floods, Rotarian Isai Prakash and his team found that they had a lot of leftover used clothes.

It occurred to them that they could be given a second chance, and after sorting through them, getting them cleaned, and mending them, they distributed the clothes amongst the needy.

They also went a step ahead, and gift-wrapped the clothes that they were handing out. While it started out of necessity, the work that this group does has been continuing.

Contact details: if you are in Chennai and have some clothes that you would like to donate, call on +91-9677085646 or +91- 9710535297.

4. Apang Manav Mandal (AMM)

Location: Ahmedabad

How does it work?

If your clothes are in good condition and can be worn by people between the ages of 7-25, look no further than AMM.

Founded in the year 1958, AMM is devoted to the cause of the disabled and looks after all their needs and requirements.

Brijita, the Chief Administrator of the organisation says, “Our only request is that people donate clothes that are in good condition. Do not leave behind clothes that you wish to throw away or discard.”

Contact details: The clothes can be dropped off at Dr Vikram Sarabhai Road, B/h. ATIRA, Ahmedabad-380015.

You could contact them on 079- 26302643 or 079- 26308156, or even visit their website here.

5. Mahesh Foundation

Location: Belgaum

How does it work?

This organisation has been working for the welfare of children and youth who have been impacted by the HIV/AIDS virus. Founded by Mahesh Jadhav in 2006, they request for woollens, sarees, salwar suits, trousers, shirts, kurta-pyjamas and even curtains and bed sheets to be used at their orphanage that houses almost 40 children.

Contact details: Ashakiran Children Care Home, Plot No.1284, Jain Basti Galli, Near Harsha Hotel, Ramatirth Nagar, Belgaum -590015.

You can reach them at +91- 9164575327 or +91-8494945327.

6. Prayas

Location: Hyderabad

How does it work?

According to Shaik Altaf Ahmed, the Executive Director of Prayas, the organisation started a project called ‘Distribution of reusable items’ in 2008.

Under this, they not only accept clothes for those above the age of 12 but also other reusable household items.

Until March 2019, donors could schedule a pickup, but Ahmed says that as of now, the service stands cancelled.

Contact details: You can connect with Ahmed at +91- 9866335488 or send an e-mail to prayashyd@gmail.com. Their office is located at # 4-1-21, Champa Estate, Boggulakunta, Tilak Road, Abids, Hyderabad.

The official website can be reached here.

7. Clothes for Help

Location: Kolkata and Pune

How does it work?

Once you donate your clothes, the organisation sorts through it and ensures that the families that are in dire need are directly impacted.

The organisation members visit different slums across the city to make sure the clothes reach the people who need them. You could log into the website and chose either a location to make the drop or schedule a pickup from your residence. If your address is within a 7-kilometre radius, then a pickup can be arranged.

Contact details: You can reach them at 22 Saktigarh (opposite Saktigarh maath)

Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032 or call on 033-4004-8442.

For you, the clothes might not mean anything now but are sure to bring a smile to those who get to wear them. Do your good deed today!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Old books and magazines piling up and gathering dust in one corner of your house? Though once cherished possessions, it is possible that you grow out of certain books. Also, what do you do with the hoard of exam materials that you must have spent many nights mugging from to crack that impossible entrance exam?

What is the best option to get rid of these? Kabadiwala? Waste paper Mart?

Well, how about donating!

Last year, two Delhi-based friends Taranpreet Singh and Anshul Mohan decided to connect those seeking books and those donating/ selling books within the same city by bringing them all on one platform: BookMandee.

All one needs to do is register, create an account, decide the price and post an ad on the website!

The 26-year-old founder had never expected the phenomenal response the portal would receive, which has managed to reach all parts of the country.

“There might be many portals which allow one to donate or sell old books, but what makes our platform stand out is the fact it gives you the option of selling your books at Rs 0, which means you’re donating it,” shares Taranpreet with The Better India (TBI).

Find more about BookMandee here.

Like Taranpreet’s amazing venture, we have a list of five notable initiatives that let you donate your old books.

The beneficiaries can be bibliophiles in search of that one long lost book or underprivileged school students. Let’s spread the joy of reading to those who can’t afford it.

1. Sisters of the People, Delhi

Located at the corner of Lajpat Bhawan, the bookshop named ‘Sisters of the People’ has an eclectic collection of second-hand and donated books in all genres that you can imagine. Because these are pre-owned, mostly donated vintage treasures, the books are sold at half their original price, with some costing as low as ₹10!

Besides spreading the love for vintage books in mint condition, what makes the endeavours of this modest shop genuinely unique is that all the proceedings from the sales are routed towards a more significant cause.

And guess what, you can donate your old books to these fantastic folks!

To connect with the Sisters of the People Book Shop, you can look them up on Instagram. If you are in search of any particular book, you can contact them by sending a text message on WhatsApp at +91 93123 88882.

2. Bookathon, Thiruvananthapuram

A joint initiative by Tejus and HANDS, two charitable organisations that function out of Technopark, Bookathon aims to collect books and set up libraries in government schools and orphanages in Kerala’s capital.

Inviting anyone and everyone willing to donate books, the drive intends to collect 50,000 books which will be used to put together 120 libraries across the city. You can give anything ranging from magazines and children’s storybooks to novels and even academic texts to these folks, who’ll ensure that these reach kids who’d love to read.

Read more about Bookathon and how to donate books here.

3. #10000Books

School books, college books, story books, board games and even stationery, you can donate any kind of used books to #10000Books team, who’ll personally come and collect it from your home. All you need to do is fill out a form. Your contribution is part of a greater cause, where these donated books will shape the future of countless students from underprivileged sectors across the country.

So if old books are piling up at your home, you know what to do!

Find more about #10000Books here.

4. MyPustak, Kolkata

Allowing people to donate old books ranging from examination materials to regular storybooks and novels, this startup is a social enterprise that offers these books to people by charging only the delivery fees.

MyPustak was founded with the vision of creating a world where no one misses out on reading just because they couldn’t afford to buy expensive books.

Instead of selling your competitive exam materials to a scrap dealer, you can give MyPustak a try. Their volunteers will do doorstep pickups, once you fill up an online form. After meeting their quality checks, these will be stored in MyPustak’s warehouse in Kolkata and listed on the website.

Please note: Those in need of books will have it delivered at minimal shipping costs.

5. India Literacy Project, Bengaluru

Intending to promote 100 per cent literacy in India, this organisation has established libraries for the low-income group communities in Bengaluru in the past. They are also involved in many projects connected with literacy promotion as well as knowledge sharing, in partnership with non-profit organisations all over the country.

They’ll be more than happy to accept books as donations. You can write to them at ilpindia@gmail.com or call at 080-23519693. For further details, check out their website.

So the next time you feel inspired by Marie Kondo and stumble upon old and forgotten books you don’t need anymore, you know what to do! Let’s spread the joy of gifting and with that, reading.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Thiruvananthapuram-based Latha Nair was working with the state fisheries department when she came to know about Binu Devasia, a young boy, through a friend in 2000.

Hailing from a financially downtrodden family from Wayanad, Binu had Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), better known as brittle bone disease, and needed an operation to separate his intertwined legs.

“Until then, I had no idea about the disease, and neither had I come across any child with this condition. But his plight moved me so much that I wanted to do something for him,” recalls Latha in an interview with The Better India.

So, she decided to find more and began speaking to her friends and doctors, and even looked up information about OI, online.

That’s when she came to know how rare a medical condition this was, and while there were many OI support societies functioning around the world, there were none in India.

The situation was such that even though Binu’s family, with great difficulty, had found a doctor to treat him, there was no way they could afford the treatment.

Even contributions made by Latha or her circle of friends and acquaintances wouldn’t suffice.

So, Latha hit upon a plan. Just the way she had found more about OI on the Internet, she decided to post an online advertisement, and reach out to people to raise funds.

This initiative managed to raise enough funds for Binu’s operation successfully, and also brought Latha a friend for life: Dhanya Ravi.

Afflicted with OI herself, the Bengaluru-based girl from Kerala joined hands with Latha to tread down upon a rare path that sought to improve the quality of life for people with OI.

“As I started meeting more and more people with his condition, I realised that most of them hailed from extremely impoverished backgrounds, and had limited knowledge of the rare disease. They also lacked any form of confidence or belief in themselves. I believed that to help any one of them, it had to start with awareness, support and most importantly, education,” she adds.

Latha also shares that because there was so little awareness about brittle bone diseases, parents would often be overprotective of their kids and bar them from any form of strenuous activities, including schooling.

Conversely, there are also situations when these children are ignored and given less attention and care than their siblings.

“Imagine a life where you watch everyone, including your doing things that you wouldn’t dare to do, with ease. I’ve met kids who wished to study in a school, travel like everyone else and in one particular case, a child just wanted to visit his father’s shop. It is quite heartbreaking and demoralising, and I wanted to change that. I believe that it was god gifted destiny that walked me down through this road,” she says.

With that started Latha’s journey of helping out children and adults with OI through financial aid as well as education and job opportunities.

Together with Dhanya, Latha began expanding her network of not just people with OI but also parents, caregivers, doctors as well as anyone who’d like to volunteer or offer support to these individuals.

This group was christened as Amrithavarshini.

“As most kids were from financially strained homes, in 2009 we decided to set aside a small amount of money from all the funding and financial assistance that we were receiving from across the world to give them a monthly allowance. Although the amount was small, what I’d envisioned through this step was that this would not just give them some financial independence but also a feeling of self-worth. When we started, it was just a small amount of Rs 200, which we have now increased to Rs 500,” Latha shares.

More than financial aid, what Latha envisioned to provide these kids was a life where they didn’t feel like a burden to their families or incapable of being an active component of the society.

“I made it a point to speak to the parents who ignored their OI-affected child and instead, showered affection on their other, more ‘able’ kids. I told them that with proper care and attention, these kids would also be able to lead regular lives, so something as essential as education should not be snatched away from them. They mustn’t be prevented from attempting exams, because for you and I, it might be just another event, but for these children, it is a validation of their lifetime efforts,” she explains.

The same year, Amrithavarshini got registered as a formal and charitable organisation working towards the welfare and support of people with OI.

Functioning only through the support of donors and well-wishers, the organisation has slowly yet steadily grown. Many of the kids who have been associated with Amrithavarshini from the beginning and were able to chase their dreams, now assist Latha or ‘Lathamma’ as she is lovingly known to help others.

She gives a special mention to Latheesha Ansari, a UPSC aspirant with OI. Incidentally, TBI had covered her journey in a story earlier this month.

“She is a wonderful child, who went through a lot, but her courage and conviction never wavered. Right before her prelims last year, she developed a chest infection, and no doctor was willing to treat her. Though depressed, she didn’t let her spirits go down and went ahead with confidence to nail it. The confidence she radiates inspires us all,” the sexagenarian proudly adds.

With the beneficiaries spread across the country, Amrithavarshini organises a yearly get together so that everyone can meet each other.

Sadly, Latha was unable to organise one the previous year as she didn’t have enough funds to do so. In fact, she failed to pay last month’s allowance of Rs 500 to all of the 85 children Amrithavarshini currently focuses on, as she had used up all the funds for Latheesha’s medical needs.

“However, the kids are quite understanding. Many of them now take tutions and can earn money. Then there are the ones who come from slightly better off households who can manage without the allowance. Fortunately, the donations came midway this month, and I was able to send the money to all of them. Our organisation is entirely dependent on donations from our friends and well-wishers and has never received any form of support from the government,” Latha shares.

She also shares with us that many of the regional media persons, who had covered the stories of her children went on to donate to Amrithavarshini for their welfare.

“When I’d started initially, my friends spread the word amongst their circle. Somewhere along the way, the media picked up, and that worked a lot in our favour. I want to mention my sincere gratitude to all these platforms; through their extensive coverage time, and again, we were able to find more donors and supporters to champion our cause,” she happily adds.

Regarding their monetary credibility, she shares that right from the start, Amrithavarshini has maintained a public bank account; and anyone can access its details and transactions.

As all the transactions were for charity, Latha was later able to apply for tax deductions under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

“As I was a government employee, I knew all the legal ways to start anything. I was adamant that our organisation would function transparently and I only accept donations as money orders or bank transactions to ensure a clean money trail,” Latha says.

Besides all the aid and support that Amrithavarshini has provided all these kids with, Latha mentions that she has taught them skills such as sewing and candle making, intending to make them self-sustained.

As the severity of the disease ranges from person to person, some of them are bedridden and can’t partake in the same.

“In such scenarios, I’ve included the parents in the sessions, as they can utilise these skills to bring some income. There are also times when someone makes a sizeable donation, so I distribute the money to the families of these needy kids so that they can start something like a poultry farm or livestock rearing,” she says.

Currently, Latha is working on a new project.

“Mobility remains a major issue for all these kids; somebody has to always carry them to move from one place to another. Besides Kerala, our children are spread across the country, including states like UP and Telangana, and it is not possible for us to get all the children together. But I want all of them to be trained in any one of the skills and earn for themselves. What I envision is a video conferencing system that these kids can access through phones, irrespective of where they are,” she shares hopefully.

She also hopes to build a residential space in a small plot of land someday in the future, where these kids can live and be looked after by employed caretakers, in case their parents are financially unable to do so.

“I’m also getting old!” she concludes with a laugh.

Since her retirement in 2014, Latha has devoted all of her time and efforts for Amrithavarshini and plans to continue doing so for as long as she can.

She is positive that someday brittle bone disease as a serious medical condition would garner more awareness in India than being broadly categorised under general physical disabilities.

You may also like: 300 Fractures in 29 Years: India’s Glass Woman Smashes Clichés Around Rare Diseases

For more information on Amrithavarshini, click here. If you wish to provide monetary
support to these children, please find the bank account details of the organisation below:

A/C No: 67145583320
IFS Code: SBIN0070020

All photographs courtesy: Amrithavarshini.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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“Who knew I would fall in love with cooking!” laughs 17-year-old Mira Shah. This love for cooking has translated into a cookbook called, ‘The Millennial Kitchen’, that Mira and her mother Tanvi Shah published in October this year.

Want to buy some tasty dips and sauces to go with you party food this holiday season? Check out these preservative free products from Karnival!

The heartwarming part is the decision that the duo have taken. They have decided to donate all the proceeds from the book to Akshaya Patra—a non-profit organisation based out of India that runs mid-day meal programmes in schools across the country.

So far, the duo have already raised around Rs. 1.75 lakh. Looking at current trends, they expect to raise Rs. 3 lakhs by February next year that will help feed about 90 children through the NGO for the entire year!

Mira Shah fondly recalls the first time she cooked with her mother. She was only 13 years old then and for her, entering the kitchen was an escape from the holiday boredom. It wasn’t long before she would run into the kitchen every free moment she had.

The Millennial Kitchen

The book comprises of about 90 recipes which are based on four dips — hummus, red pesto, green pesto and Tzatziki.

For Tanvi, Mira’s mother, cooking started much later in her life. She grew up in Mumbai and she was actually never allowed in the kitchen. “I was 16 when I started cooking and later when I went to college. I also had this aunt who would cook the best non-vegetarian food like chicken curry, kebabs and continental dishes,” says the 48-year-old.

It was during her college years in Switzerland and America that she actually got interested in cooking. After finishing her higher studies from the University of Texas, she went on to work with IBM in Dallas and returned to India in 1998.

“After getting married, I became really interested in creating different fusion dishes. Food styling and plating was also something I thoroughly enjoyed,” says Tanvi.

Cooking for a cause

In December 2015, the family of four visited London. The vacation turned out to be a major turning point. During the visit, they saw a local Gurudwara truck feeding the homeless.

“My brother Vir was especially struck by this and said we should do something similar for the underprivileged back in India. A few months later, Vir and I sat shoulder to shoulder with strangers from across India at the langar in Amritsar’s Golden Temple. Vir’s words spoken in London came back to me,” says Mira.

On their return, Mira, with her mother Tanvi, decided that they too could do something and contribute to society. Mira and her mother went on to start, ‘Cook for a Cause’ — a home kitchen that donated 100 per cent of its profits to charity.

“We made dips and oil-free pickles and sold them to our friends and family. Our recipes were simple, healthy, and fresh,” says Mira.

It wasn’t long before the mother-daughter duo was inundated with orders.

Seeing the demand for homemade products, Mira enrolled in a programme called, ‘The Young Entrepreneurs Academy’ (YEA!). “With the right mentoring and vision, I was able to channel my hobby into a cookbook. This way, when I go to college in a few years, I would be able to continue supporting the NGO by donating the earnings from this book,” says Mira.

Speaking about the reason why they chose Akshaya Patra, Mira explains, “My mother bumped into Sudha Murthy at an event. Their discussions led to them talking about Akshaya Patra. We liked the fact that the food is nutritionally prepared in their kitchens. The organisation has a branch in each state and the best part is that nutritionists design these meals in accordance to the regional dietary habits.”

Mira also often volunteers at Akshaya Patra’s centre in Thane.

The book journey

The book, launched in October this year, has already sold close to 200 copies.

If you ask Mira what her favourite recipes are, she says, “I love most of the recipes in the book but I love pasta recipes!” She adds that when it comes to her mother’s cooking, she loves her mother’s butter chicken, lamb, fish other than the pastas. Mira also informs that as she was usually tied up with school work, her mother would then work on some of the dishes they had decided upon for the book. Aided and abetted by Mira.

However, challenges are never far away from the duo. “I think the most challenging bit in the process was not writing the book but actually getting it published. Editing the book, ensuring we have the right pictures, testing the recipes in a home kitchen were all challenging,” explains Mira.

Now, Mira looks forward to pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts abroad after clearing exams from Jamnabai Narsee International School.

Also Read: Mom-Daughter Duo Started A Conversation On Mental Health That Helped 15,000 Folks!

So, what has been the biggest learning for Mira throughout this journey?

“As kids, we are very demanding and can be fussy with food. But, this entire journey starting from being associated and volunteering with an NGO has taught me so much. I used to complain about food so much but now, I have learnt to be more grateful and show gratitude,” she says signing off.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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With The Positive Collective, The Better India’s COVID-19 coverage is available to regional language publications for free. Write to editorial@thebetterindia.com for more details.

“I saw scores of people from villages and other states waiting outside hospitals as they cannot afford hotels. After spending huge sums on treatments and medicines, they barely have anything left. In times when they are already worried, hunger worsens the circumstances,” says Syed Gulab, an insurance agent who lives in Bengaluru.

As this scene is common outside the hospitals all across India, Syed too must have seen it many times before.

However, we may look at something several times, but it is when we truly see things, do transformations happen.

The calling came to Syed one day and it marked a turning point of sorts for him.

He not only began distributing food to these people for free, but inspired many to aid him in his philanthropic venture.

From the initial 100 people, the number of beneficiaries has increased to 700. The daily initiative incurs a monthly expense of around Rs 3 lakh of which Syed pays 25 per cent and the rest is borne via donations.

And it all began with a hospital visit four years ago.

A Hospital Visit That Changed Him Forever

“My friend’s daughter was admitted in the ICU of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Jayanagar. My visits to the area were eye-opening. I saw several families whose loved ones were admitted in the hospital living on pavements without food and water for days,”  Syed tells The Better India (TBI).

Moved by the unfortunate plight of such families, Syed started a free meal service inside the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of TB and Chest Diseases which is adjacent to the children’s hospital.

“The compound has four hospitals including cancer, TB, accident and children. Giving just one meal can lift their spirits and help them stay strong,” says Syed.

He distinctly remembers the first day when he served the meals. His family could not understand the need to wake up early and prepare meals for strangers outside hospitals. Meanwhile, those very strangers failed to comprehend why this man was distributing meals for free.

“After debating with my family, I came to Jayanagar and stood nervously at the junction on a Sunday. I approached a few families who looked at me with suspicion and some just ignored me. However, as soon as I opened big rice and gravy containers, there was chaos. But they all got meals to eat. Just seeing them so content encouraged me to scale the initiative,” he shares.

For the first six months, Syed served meals only on Sundays after which he registered his ‘Roti Charity Trust’ to make it a daily affair. He also sought official permission from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of TB and Chest Diseases to set up his stall for a few hours every day.

When Syed decided to take up the service for full time, Hyderabad-based social activist Azhar Maqsusi encouraged and assured him in his endeavour.

Maqsusi has been serving free food to the destitute in Hyderabad for the last ten years. He met Syed after learning about his campaign during a visit to Bengaluru.

Help Pours In

Maqsusi not only gave useful advice to Syed he also promised to donate 30 bags of rice every month.

Likewise, many individuals and organisations came forward to donate money or food to Roti Charity. A friend even rented his house (which is close to the hospital junction) for free to prepare meals.

Soon, Syed’s noble act was picked up by news channels and papers. This not only attracted more donors but also volunteers who wanted to assist Syed.

One of them is Ramaswamy Iyer, a local, who has collaborated with Syed to provide breakfasts daily. “Iyer prepares upma or idli in his kitchen and all I have to do is distribute it,” informs Syed who has hired a cook to prepare lunch.

A Day In The Busy Life Of Syed

Syed begins his day early by 5 and after finishing his household chores, he takes the breakfast in his vehicle to the hospital and serves the long queue that starts forming as early as six.

He then goes back to his house and returns around 1.45 pm to serve lunch. While some eat the food on the spot, some parcel it in their containers to eat it for dinner. Syed wraps up his day by cleaning the kitchen and dedicates the rest of the day for his work.

Though meeting expenses every month has been challenging, the blessings, satisfaction and smiles he sees every day keep him going. In fact, even during the lockdown, he is doing his bit by distributing ration kits to the poor.

So many families wait in the sun, praying for the swift recovery of their loved ones. Hunger and thirst do not register when one is worried. But a full stomach can certainly make things a tad easy. Thanks to compassionate and selfless people like Syed, the people in their city do not have to starve.

Also Read: Cooking For a Cause, Mom-Daughter Aim to Feed 90 Needy Kids For a Year

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on 21 February 2020. After nine years of marriage, Nidhi and her husband, Tushar, welcomed Veer into their home. While she enjoyed the newfound joys of motherhood, she found herself in a particularly perplexing situation. “After nursing my child, I realised that I still had a lot of milk leftover. I had read on the internet that breast milk does have a shelf life of three to four months if properly stored in a refrigerator,” begins Nidhi, who went on to make a sizable donation of breast milk during the lockdown period.

A month-and-a-half down the line, she found her freezer starting to fill up with breast milk as she still had not found a good enough use for it. “The internet suggested making face packs out of it. Some of my friends said they bathe their babies with it or even use it to scrub their feet. Since I thought this was a cruel waste of milk, and I did not want to give it to salons (laughs), I began researching breast milk donation,” says the 41-year-old, film producer, who was last associated with Saand Ki Aankh (2019).

It was a serendipitous encounter that led Nidhi, who was on the brink of getting rid of her excess milk, to Surya Hospital, Khar, Mumbai. The hospital has had an operational breast milk bank since 2019. However, due to the lockdown, which began at the end of March in the city, the hospital didn’t receive its usual amount of milk donations.

“I contacted my gynaecologist at Women’s Hospital, Bandra, who suggested I donate the milk to Surya Hospital. Up until that point, I had about 20 packets of 150 ml each in my fridge, but the thought of getting out to donate during the lockdown was concerning, for I now had a baby at home. But the hospital was very forthcoming and ensured a zero-contact pick-up from my doorstep,” says Nidhi.

“We generally encourage mothers, who have not delivered their babies with us, to drop off their milk donations at the hospital. But even though we were also concerned for our staff when the pandemic hit we offered to pick up these donations, ensuring zero-contact,” says Dr Hari Balasubramanian, consultant Neonatologist at Surya Hospital, who is also in charge of the breast milk bank.

A bank that saves tiny lives

For the hospital, necessity was the mother of all inventions. “Our NICU (Neonatal intensive care unit) has 65 active beds, and 70 per cent of the babies born here are below 1.5 kg, while 30-40 per cent are less than one kg. At this stage, babies only feed on breast milk, which needs to continue for another 70-80 days. However, when the baby is born before nine months, often the mother faces problems with lactation. NICU babies are separated from their mothers which may also hinder the lactation process. Also, babies of sickly mothers or those on medication can’t breastfeed,” says Dr Hari. For such cases, donor’s milk comes handy.

“Instead of feeding the babies preterm formula, which has a risk of mortality, gut problems and surgery complications, a donor’s milk has proven to be of great help. The incidences of complications due to feed have reduced with the administration of donor’s milk, and also the long term benefits, when the child is two or three years old, has shown improvement,” he adds.

The hospital has two deep freezers, with temperature monitoring controls, and each with a capacity to store 200 litres of milk, which is frozen at -20℃. Their stock is refilled with 50 per cent coming from donors and the other half from mothers who deliver at their facility.

However, during the lockdown, the hospital’s milk supply had dwindled to 10 litres.

Every drop counts

It is because of donors like Nidhi that the hospital’s milk bank was revived. “After my first donation, I would express milk at home, and every 15-20 days I would donate it to the hospital,” says Nidhi, who contributed a total of 40 litres since May 2020.

She adds, “When I started weaning my baby off breast milk, I informed Dr Hari about the same, but he suggested I come to see the babies I am helping. When I saw those tiny babies, weighing just 650 grams, it became a bigger driving factor for me. I will try to donate breast milk at least till February 2021.”

The hospital welcomes any contribution “both large and small”. Dr Hari adds, “The milk donated is life for some babies. The mortality rate of premature babies has come down by 8-9% by administering donor’s milk.”

If you want to be a donor

Before becoming a donor, mothers have to provide results of tests such as HIV, Hepatitis B antigens tests and a few others that they have already taken during pregnancy. “Before the milk is administered to the babies, it is tested for bacteria and pasteurised, which is a universal mandate. Though this may slightly decrease the nutritional value of the milk, its benefits are far more important,” says Dr Hari.

“Unlike some hospitals that charge Rs 1500-2000 for 100 ml of breast milk, Surya Hospital administers it free of charge,” Nidhi says.

She suggests buying BPA bags, with a capacity of 150-200 ml each, online or at a pharmacy. The bags are sterilised and can be sealed and stored in the deep freeze for up to three months. Surya Hospital also provides donors with sterile bags for free along with breast pumps on lease and lactation counselling.

“These babies need just 8-15 ml of breast milk. Even if it means just 10 minutes extra pumping daily, you could save a life,” Nidhi concludes.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

When Saand Ki Aankh (2019) producer, Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani heard of all the premature babies she was helping through her breast milk donation, she decided to continue her endeavour. “When I saw those tiny babies, weighing just 650 grams, it became a bigger driving factor for me. I will try to donate breast milk at least till February 2021,” she told us in an interview. It was during the lockdown owing to the COVID-19 pandemic that Nidhi donated over 40 litres of breast milk.

In another interview with The Better India, Nidhi answers all questions about breast milk donation that a first-time mother or donor would have.

Here are six tips on how to become a breast milk donor.

The first step

You have to find out if there is a milk bank in your city. The best way to do that is to call up a hospital with a NICU (Neonatal intensive care unit) in your city and enquire about milk donation. They will ask you for a couple of test results such as HIV, Hepatitis B antigens tests and a few others that you have already taken during pregnancy. Once the tests are clear, you can donate.

Buying the right pump

One needs to express their breast milk with the help of a breast pump. Pumping done correctly should not hurt at all. Initially, there will be discomfort, but it goes away once you get used to pumping. Choosing a good breast pump with the right flange size is very important. Medela breast pumps are perfect, and one can select a pump based on their budget. I also recommend LuvLap and Medela Single Mini Electric Breast pump. You can easily Google search to know the right breast pump flange size for you.

The only bad experience I had was with Medela Swing Breast Pump Electric, as it was very inconsistent and ended up really frustrating me.

Dealing with pain

In case the nipples hurt because of breastfeeding and pumping, one can use Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream. I found it very cooling and comforting. Also, one should give warm compress to the breast and nipple to relieve discomfort. To make a hot compress at home, heat some mustard seeds on a tawa and put them in a handkerchief. Make a potli by tying it up with a rubber band. You can also put some breast milk on your nipple and let it dry before wiping it off with a lukewarm cloth.

Dietary needs

I follow a very balanced diet. I found that beetroot soup was beneficial to increase milk volume. Boiling water with cumin/fenugreek/fennel seeds and drinking it throughout the day also helps. Carrots and green veggies are a must. Salmon and eggs are known foods that aid in the increase of breast milk volume.

Hygienic storing practices

There are BPA-free milk bags for breast milk available on Amazon – Pigeon, Medela, Morisons, Lansinoh, etc., brands are a few. These are sterilised milk bags required for storing breast milk. Always wash your hands thoroughly before expressing milk and handling the milk bags. Keep your breast pump bottles, connectors, flanges, etc. washed and sterilised in an Avent steriliser or one can even put all of these in boiling water for five minutes before use.

Be careful not to burn the plastic bottles. Anything that comes in contact with the breast milk and the equipment needs to be sterilised and clean. The breast milk bags should be stored in the freezer section of the refrigerator. Breast milk has a shelf life of two to three months in a home freezer.

COVID-19-related risks

There is no risk of COVID-19 in breast milk donation. Ensure that you wear a mask and a face shield when you go to donate the milk and keep your hands sanitised. My husband, Tushar Hiranandani, wears a PPE kit when he goes to drop off the milk to minimise any risk.

Once you’re accustomed to using a breast pump and have an abundant milk supply, it is straightforward to pump and freeze a bag or two for donation. I have dedicated one pump session every day for this cause, after having fed my child. Even a 100 ml bag can help a baby, so please try and do as much as you can as it will go a long way for the little ones in need.

(As told to Yoshita Rao)

A school teacher couple, of Pathardi in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district, have emerged as promising social entrepreneurs helping destitute women, widows, orphans, distressed farmers, needy school children, among others.

For the last six years, Popatrao Funde (40) of Waikarwasti Zila Parishad (ZP) Primary School and wife, Anuradha (39) of Ranjani ZP Primary School have been putting aside 10 per cent of their salary for their philanthropic work. So far they have provided assistance to 1200 garaju (Marathi for ‘needy’) in this Western Maharashtrian municipal town in “an effort to give back to society”.

It all began in June 2014, while Popatrao fell unconscious at work in Dhaswasti ZP Primary School and was rushed to a hospital. He recalls, “The physician told me I had fainted due to low blood pressure and that I should be thankful to God that I survived. It was then that I decided to do my humble bit for those in need and try bringing some cheer to their lives, especially to those who are not as fortunate as I am.”

Every Sunday, the Funde couple visit localities in the neighbouring villages to seek out those who could do with some assistance — financial or otherwise. Be it a sewing machine for a hard-pressed couple, clothes and books for a school-going child, birthday gifts to a child, a goat for a farmer couple, daily rations for an orphanage or a crematorium worker, a gas stove for an eatery on a cart, footing the hospital bills of an ailing factory labourer, a wheat grinder for a housewife-entrepreneur — the duo have helped with it all.

A school which once housed cattle gets a makeover

Most ZP primary schools in Maharashtra are in remote areas, unconnected by roads and far away from urban settlements. These schools with only two teachers have a student strength ranging from 1 to 60.

During his 10-year tenure at Dhaswasti ZP Primary School in Dhaswasti, 11kms from Pathardi comprising majorly of Dhangars—a pastoral community of shepherds, wool weavers and buffalo herders—Popatrao motivated friends, well-wishers and acquaintances to help equip the two-room rural school with computers, e-learning kits, loudspeakers, benches, water purifier, toilet facilities, etc. In 2011, Sheetal Dhas, a Class four student of the school stood third in the Maharashtra Government’s State Scholarship exam while Sagar Kute, also from the same class, stood 10th in the district.

In 2016, Popatrao was transferred to Doiphodewasti Zila Parishad (ZP) Primary School. “The day I arrived at the school, some time in June, I found that cattle had made it their home. Undeterred, I stripped to my trousers and began cleaning the classrooms and the premises. Soon the villagers arrived and surprised at what a teacher was doing, began assisting me.”

He reached out to the villagers, convincing the parents to send their kids to the school. The school resumed with 16 students reaching a strength of 20 within months. He gifted stationery worth Rs 2,000 to the students, and appalled by their oral hygiene, he gave away toothbrushes and toothpaste, too. He motivated several men of the village to give up alcohol, formed a Bhajan Mandal and also created a women’s savings group. Age-old disputes among villagers were resolved too. “I also promised a sum of Rs 1,000 would be deposited in the Sukanya Yojana for every new-born girl child,” says Popatrao.

Within the first eight months, he helped raise donations which led to the school acquiring computers, water purifiers, toilet basin, all totalling Rs 10 lakhs. He motivated the villagers to adopt water conservation methods, helped resolve disputes, encouraged people to take up shramdaan activities in order to clean up the village’s surroundings. “Fortunately, the Ahmednagar District Collector attended the school’s annual day which made a great impression among the villagers who had never seen a government official before,” says Popatrao.

Anil Mahadeo Kawade who while being the District Collector of Ahmednagar in 2017 attended the annual day event at the 20-student strong Doiphodewasti ZP School. Now the Commissioner, Cooperation & Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Pune, recalls, “Popatrao has an innovative approach towards teaching kids. Seated on the floor, he interacts with students from first to the fourth standard, simultaneously and he has had amazing results with them.”

Since December 2019, Popatrao has been serving as a teacher at Waikarbasti ZP Primary School and has equipped it with e-learning systems, a projector, water tank, furniture, teaching aids, and game equipment etc. with the help of donations raised by well-wishers. Due to his innovative teaching methods, he was selected by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture of Government of India, for a week-long puppetry training workshop in Hyderabad.

According to Pathardi Municipal Corporator, Bandu Patil Borude, the Funde couple have earned the trust of the locals due to their exemplary social activities. “We need more people like them amongst us. Those who come to the aid of the needy and the destitute,” he says.

The Selfless Fundes

Following the onset of the pandemic due to Covid-19, the couple has been unable to reach out to people personally but still continued with their good Samaritan initiatives. Anuradha says, “We started posting details about our activities on social media and have been receiving scores of referrals for the assistance which made our job much easier.”

During the pandemic, the couple have provided daily rations to 50 Adivasi families, and also helped out 20-year-old Dipak Rakh, who grew up without parents. “We got to know of Dipak through a Whatsapp contact and gifted him with a cheque Rs 10,000 and assured to take care of the costs incurred for his MPSC exam preparations,” says Anuradha.

With a school-going child and elderly parents to support, besides EMI payments for their house and two-wheelers, the couple admit they have spent “over Rs 3 lakhs” on their humanitarian activities.

But humorist, inspirational speaker and story writer Dr Sanjay Kalamkar who has known the couple for long says, “Though they say that they spend a mere 10 per cent of their salary on philanthropic activities I believe they spend much more.”

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

When Dev Pratap ran away from his home at the age of 11, he was clueless about what would happen next. But after an eventful life on the streets of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, he knew he was destined to help kids who struggle to earn their daily bread.

Dev was a ragpicker and slept in the midst of garbage. In order to escape the stench, he started using drugs. Later, he got addicted to it and even began robbing people to find money for drugs.

Life took a turn when he was arrested and jailed for 15 days, and the kindness of a stranger transformed his life.

Dev is now the store manager of a reputed company and most importantly, he serves the slum people by providing meals and education.

He set up a non-profit organisation called Voice of Slum, which offers education to over 800 slum kids and takes care of their requirements.

Dev along with his partner Chandini visit slums everyday and feed 1,000 people.

Dev’s unbelievable transformation and relentless service is a true inspiration. Watch his story here:

Alright, the restaurants talked about in this article are not quite as philanthropic as the title seems to suggest. Yet, it is a great business model where the poor benefit too. Those of you who might have never been to Mumbai, India’s financial capital, there is a possibility that you are unaware of the restaurants in this city which feed the poor and needy, based on the donation or charity they receive on a daily basis.

The New York Times carries this article in its Mumbai Journal, written by Anand Giridharadas:

The world is filled with eating houses of every kind, from hamburger joints to three-star restaurants. There are places you drive through and places where you sit down. But the world may be unfamiliar with a Mumbai variation on the theme: the hunger cafe.

It takes a city like Mumbai, formerly Bombay, frenetic, transactional and compassionate, to erect eateries for the malnourished. They are not soup kitchens, for denizens of this city have little time to serve other people food. In a city that never stops selling stocks and shooting movies, they prefer drive-by benevolence.

In addition to describing the business cum charity model of these restaurants, donors and beneficiaries, the article also talks about the unique ‘latent’ sense of charity that we Indians possess. Essentially, the people who are hungry and in need of food sit outside these ‘hunger cafes’ waiting. Frequently, one or more cars drive by and deposit their ‘tip’ with the restaurant manager. Based on the amount of this tip, the manager invites a certain number of poor hungry souls waiting outside to a full meal.

Personally, I have seen many affluent business class people offering their money here – sometimes out of sympathy, sometimes as a dutiful charity and sometimes to appease one of their Gods. Whatever might be the reason, it is nice to see that hundreds of people go to sleep on a full stomach due to these restaurants and their respective donors.

Read the complete article here.

Akanksha Foundation, a non-profit organization trying to improve the lives of slum children via the medium of education, recently held a literary fest. The objective of the fest was to get these children excited about reading, and also to explore their and encourage their creativity in writing and expression.

Preeti Srivastav reports in ExpressIndia about the programme in which more than 300 children participated and enjoyed. Excerpts:

“Nothing can replace the joy of reading, but children are so over burdened with their courses that they tend to loose interest. We are conducting festivals of this kind to encourage reading among the children. These children hardly come across good books. So we are here to bring some good reading to them,” shares Reeves Rodrigues, general manager, Aakanksha foundation.

Read the rest of the article here, and check out the Akanksha Foundation and the work they do here. For people who love to work with children, especially in Mumbai and Pune, they could offer several opportunities for volunteering.

24-year old Haran Kumar is a freelance photographer for the Times of India. What is perhaps less known about his life is the story of his rise from a boy living on the streets to an internationally acclaimed lensman.

Teneshia Naidoo narrates this for us in The Times here. Haran Kumar had fled his hometown in West Bengal at the age of 11, and came to Delhi with 20 rupees in his pocket, to find home with hundreds of other children on the streets. Says Kumar:

“I had many educational problems. I was really bad at studying and I had been bunking school for a month. When the school sent a letter to my parents, I knew I had to take a chance and run away, because I was so afraid of my father and I knew he would beat me.”

 

“Life was hard. During the evenings, I would try to sleep in a train, but sometimes police would come and beat us up for being on the train.”

After some time, Kumar was noticed by a staff member of Salaam Balak Trust, an NGO that offers shelter to street children. With the help of this NGO, Kumar was able to rebuild his life. He began going to school again and actually started performing well.

He discovered his talent and love for photography at a workshop, where he excelled at his chosen subject: shooting street children. He had an unusual flair for depicting these children as happy and full of life, unlike the usual attempts to bring out their misery. This got him a lot of recognition, and he has an exhibition lined up from September 5 to October 5, 2008 at the Sandton Art Centre. Anyone living in South Africa would no doubt love to check it out.

While on this story, do see this interesting project that Salaam Balak Trust has started to sensitize people to the lives of street children. People in Delhi can participate in a City Walk, the details of which you can find here, and learn about the city, its heritage, its stories and its people from the youngsters who know it best!

The Students of Symbiosis Infotech Campus (SIC) have come together to contribute towards providing better quality education for slum children.  The group is called Prayatna and their intention is to enrich the experience that the slum children get from the government run schools that they attend. Preeti Srivastav writes in this article in the Indian Express.

“These children do attend their government-run schools, but they needed that extra looking after to make themselves more competent. We not only take classes for them on our campus but have also got them admitted in a good English medium school for their better education,” says Chauhan, adding, “We have to catch them young as it becomes difficult to shift them from a Hindi or vernacular medium schools to a English medium one.”

The really interesting part is the source of the funds for this activity:

Not neglecting the funds, he said that they were paying Rs 7000 per children to the school, which in turn takes care of all the needs of the children – from fees to books to uniforms. When asked about the source of funds, Chauhan explained that SIC students conduct film festivals and games through which they collect money for the children. They also collect old clothes and books from SIC students. However the noble idea was of alumni adopting the children.

It is truly wonderful that as part of their college activities the students are able to source funds and provide for a better education for the lesser privileged children of our country. We hope that this model will act as a source of inspiration for many other colleges across India to give back something to the society.
And the work just doesn’t seem to stop at providing classroom education, as the article goes on to say:

Apart from the schooling, they also have many activities lined up for the kids.”We bring them to our campus five times a week and give them classes for english, maths, science, personality development, general knowledge and so on. We also take them for games and sports. We show them inspirational documentaries,” says Chauhan.

One of the objectives with which The Better India was started is to spread awareness and create a sense of social contribution amidst our citizens. Hence, for us it is heartening to note that today’s students are already treading this path of spreading welfare! We wish Prayatna all the very best in their ongoing endeavors and look forward to many more school children receiving quality education from SIC and other similar college bodies.

Read the complete article here.

About DEEDS:
DEEDS is a Charity for the Hearing Impaired. It is an acronym that stands for Development Education Empowerment for the Disadvantaged in Society.

Their Vision:
‘To Enrich & Touch the lives of at least 10,000 deaf persons  by the end of this decade’. In pursuance of this Vision, so as to make the deaf financially Self Reliant & Contributors in main stream Society’.
 

Key Areas of Focus:
 – Free Education for the deaf
– Free Vocational Training for the deaf
– Ensuring Job Placements

Ongoing Projects: 

They have 11 ongoing projects in Mumbai ,Vadodara , Noida and Dehradun.  
Some of their projects are as follows:

• Noida Deaf Society – Noida (Computer centre providing Basic & Advanced Computer knowledge)
• DEEDS Ishara Initiative – Mumbai (Teaching English Literacy with the help of Sign Language)
• The Bajaj Institute of Learning – Dehradun (Provides education from KG to XIIth totally free
• DEEDS Catering Institute – Mumbai (Provides a one-year full-time diploma with stipend in catering certified by Maharashtra State Vocation Board)
• DEEDS LTMG Tailoring Project- Mumbai. It provides free training in the tailoring vocation.
• DEEDS Computer Center at Sanskardham at Goregaon. It imparts basic and advanced skills in computers.
• DEEDS Computer Center at Samvad Karnabadhir Prabodhini at Dombivali. It imparts basic and advanced skills in computer.
• DEEDS  Computer Rooms in  schools like Rochiram Thadani School for the Hearing Handicapped, Chembur and Pragati Vidyalaya for the deaf, Dadar.
• DEEDS also provide material support to 27 schools for the deaf in Mumbai as per requirements.

Achievements:

Their success rate in placements also has been considerable.  They have placed over 400 candidates in various fields like banking, hospitality, catering, house-keeping, traffic attendents at petrol pumps, Brew Masters, Jewellery-making, diamond sorting, clerical jobs and back office processes. They are constantly striving to improve our ties with the various sectors of industry to identify lucrative opportunities for their candidates. 

Upcoming Events:
DEEDS is conducting a fund raising event on the 22nd October in Mumbai. It is a hilarious play with a comic twist, adapted and directed by Shubha Khote. Click here to know more about the event.

Stay tuned for volunteering opportunities with DEEDS.

Contact DEEDS at:
Development, Education, Empowerment of the Disadvantaged in Society
8 Bajaj Arcade,
31, Union Park, Khar(W),
Mumbai 400 052. India.
Tel: +91-22-26005083/84.
Email: humanity@deeds-india.com

Read more about DEEDS and their work at their website: http://www.deeds-india.com/

14,000 employees. 40 locations across India. 23,375 hours of community service clocked. This has been the success story of Sankalp – the employee self actualization program at Hindustan Unilever Ltd. In order to mark 75 years of its existence in India, the company decided to devote 1 hour for each day of the 75 years in October 2007. One year later it has surpassed that goal.

HUL Sankalp is a program that allows the employee to register and get associated to a cause or NGO. The back-end support was provided by indianngos.com which was responsible for checking the authenticity of its partner NGOs and for tracking the employee’s commitment. Sapna Agarwal reports in Business Standard:

The programme has now gone beyond the cities to touch lives of people in the rural districts like that of Wad/ Jawahar. Here HUL Mumbai employees travelled 130 km to create awareness on hand wash and hygiene. Similarly, employees have also started involving their family members.

Nair added: “An employee, Crystelle Ellis along with her family clocked over 600 hours of voluntary service at the Little Sisters of the Poor, an old age home in Kolkata. Their activities included cooking, cleaning, serving, washing, helping the invalid to groom themselves and move about apart from helping with office work.”

Such initiatives reconfirm the belief that every person has an innate desire to do good and to give back to the society. They just need the right platform and the initial push. After this, in all probability, they will surprise themselves.

Read the complete article here.

This article is about a unique initiative called the Clothes Bank. Many people just throw their old clothes away. Old pair of jeans which one no longer fits in, an ancient sweater with some wool pulled off, a ragged t-shirt and all such clothing we abandon and move up to the latest fashion. You might want to donate, but the problem is how to find people who need such clothes?

To solve this, a Guwahati based NGO called Xavier’s Foundation has founded a unique Clothes Bank in association with the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi).

The basic objective of this bank is simple – it collects clothes from people who no longer need them, and distributes these clothes to the poor and the needy. Its a brilliant idea and leaves one wondering as to why such an idea was not already implemented.

The Telegraph reports in this article:

“Our basic idea is to collect old clothes that can be still be used and make those available to the needy free of cost through different NGOs and other organisations which are working for the uplift of the poor and underprivileged,” Xavier’s Foundation president Pranab Jyoti Neog said. The idea is his brainchild.

For the donors:

He said the clothes bank would be good for donors as well because while disposing their old clothes they would be doing charity by ensuring that these clothes reach the needy and poor people free of cost.

If you live in Guwahati or nearby the city, you can donate your clothes at the office of the NEDFi which is house number 8 on Rajgarh Main Road. You can also call them at their office on +91-036-2529 202-06. (Contact number obtained from NEDFi website)

If we have numerous such clothes bank in our country, it would be a great help in cases of natural disasters (floods, earth quakes etc) since it would be easy to mobilize clothing to the affected people. In fact, why just a clothes bank we ask. We could also have an essential commodities bank wherein people can donate things like utensils, furniture, footwear etc. These banks could then take on the responsibility of distributing it to the needy. 

The Clothes Bank set up by NEFDi is a simple yet impactful idea and we hope this serves as an inspiration to many of us to take up such initiatives.

Read the complete Telegraph article.
Image courtesy: lime.com

We at The Better India are pleased to announce a partnership with GiveIndia to help our readers make a difference in the lives of people in need.

What is GiveIndia?

GiveIndia (www.giveindia.org) is a NGO that works as a fundraising intermediary, connecting donors from all over the world with NGOs in India that need funds. GiveIndia’s role in this chain is to add value and transparency and credibility to the entire process through a number of ways.

How GiveIndia Works:

Firstly, GiveIndia has done due diligence on each of the NGOs it works with, ensuring that they meet the Credibility Alliance norms which mean they operate with high levels of transparency.

Then, GiveIndia lets the donor choose exactly how they want their money to be used by offering a variety of causes, NGOs and projects that help the poorest of the poor. So a donor can pick between over 400 “donation options” that range from providing a cataract surgery to education a child to training youth in livelihood skills to offering micro-credit to a rural woman. GiveIndia wants donors to be empowered to make their own choice of a cause that is dear to their heart.

Within 6-8 months of making a donation, a donor receives a feedback report with the details of their beneficiary and how they helped change a life. These feedback reports are individualised for each donor and take time and effort to generate but GiveIndia feels that until donors in India develop a much higher level of trust in NGOs, such reports help build confidence.

GiveIndia targets mostly retails donors as part of their mission of creating a giving culture in India. Currently GiveIndia raise funds through a website, http://www.giveindia.org where in the FY08 close to Rs2 crore was raised.

GiveIndia’s other main focus is the Payroll Giving Program where 25,000 professionals from the leading companies of India such as ICICI Bank, Genpact, Star TV and HDFC donate a sum of their choice from their salaries every month. Currently, these contributions total Rs50 lac per month and GiveIndia has ambitious plans to scale up this program.

Interestingly, GiveIndia is able to all this at a cost of fundraising that is below 10% against industry averages of 30 – 40%. GiveIndia is able to keep costs relatively low, thanks to a highly committed team of staff that works at a fraction of their “market rates”, a large band of very dedicated volunteers, zero outlay on Board members and the deep belief in the need to be as “thin” an organisation as possible.

The Beginning:

GiveIndia was started in the year 2000 by Venkat Krishnan, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus who started his career in the corporate sector but decided to pursue something more meaningful. It is a registered non-profit in India and offers tax benefits to Indian as well as US and UK taxpayers. This makes it the preferred choice of many NRIs.

Testimonials:

One of GiveIndia’s NRI donors, Mr S Khanna explains why he donates through GiveIndia. “ I used to always wonder how I could make a difference. Earlier I had to rely on friends and relatives to make donations. But they had to find time and do me a favour. The other option was to wait until I come home for vacation. Going to India on vacation used to be so hectic. Then I found GiveIndia’s banner on the ICICI site. I have been a regular donor through your site and have been impressed by the way you have grown to provide a link between the donor and the NGOs.”

In Conclusion:

GiveIndia is a “one stop shop” for donating towards poverty alleviation in India. GiveIndia is quick to respond during disasters and has helped to raise funds for the Bhuj earthquake, the tsunami, the Bihar floods. Currently they are helping NGOs raise funds for the victims of the terror attacks in Mumbai as well as those affected by Cyclone Nisha that has devastated parts of Tamil Nadu.

With donation options starting as low as Rs500, India’s growing Internet user base finally has a trustworthy channel through which they can contribute towards the developemnt of our country. 

The Better India and GiveIndia Partnership:

The Better India has partnered with GiveIndia to help you make a difference in the lives of people in need.

Click here to visit the GiveIndia-TBI site where you can make a secure online donation and receive a feedback report (within a few months) of exactly how you helped change a life.

When you think of eye care and restoration of sight, the first thought that comes to mind is of Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai and its founder Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy. The largest single provider of eye surgery in the world, Aravind has given sight to more than a million people in India since its inception in 1976. Having perfected the art of treating cataract and other eye problems to the point where any further improvements would necessitate a revolution in the field, the hospital and its team of dedicated surgeons and staff has achieved unimaginable economies of scale. A cataract operation that would cost $1,650 to perform in the US takes them about $10. Harriet Rubin has profiled the life and work of ‘Dr. V’ beautifully in his article published in FastCompany, from which here are a few excerpts:

How do you achieve perfection in the never-perfect and always-compromised world of business? It helps to have a service that you can’t sell. That way, you have to give it away. Your toughest customers are always the people who don’t need you. Many of Aravind’s patients can’t afford cataract surgery. Most don’t remember what good vision is — and don’t understand why it would offer any benefit. So Aravind has to keep educating them — and perfecting its own service.

On a slow day, Aravind treats 400 patients. Offering free services to all who need it, with absolutely no criteria for availing for free service, the hospital still manages a gross margin of 40%. This is despite the fact that almost 70% of its patients paying nothing, and it does not depend on donations or government grants. It has been achieved by constantly cutting costs, increasing efficiency, innovating and building a market. Most of Aravind’s potential beneficiaries are not even aware of such a service or their need for it.

“In the third world, a blind person is referred to as ‘a mouth without hands,’ ” says Dr. V. “He is detrimental to his family and to the whole village. But all he needs is a 10-minute operation. One week the bandages go on, the next week they go off. High bang for the buck. But people don’t realize that the surgery is available, or that they can afford it because it’s free. We have to sell them first on the need.”

Aravind has managed to beat costs in every area of its service: The hospital’s own Aurolab, begun in 1992, pioneered the production of high-quality, low-cost intraocular lenses. Aurolab now produces 700,000 lenses per year, a quarter of which are used at Aravind. The rest are exported to countries all over the world — except to the United States. (In order for Aravind to get its lenses approved for sale in the United States, it would have to pay for an FDA study and a clinical study, which the hospital cannot afford.) Aravind even has its own guest house, and students and physicians from around the world come to teach, study, observe, practice — and boost their training. Poles for stretchers? They’re made from bamboo that grows in Dr. V.’s garden. “We also have the $5 pole, which is bright and shiny,” says Dr. Natchiar, “but we prefer these bamboo poles.”

How many people knew that Dr V had studied to become an obstetrician but a crippling rheumatoid arthritis forced him to take an alternative path. If anything confirms the saying that ‘everything happens for the best’, this would be it. Rubin talks about the passion and leadership qualities of the humble man who has been inspired by Gandhi and Sri Aurobindo, but set his own standards.

You know he knows. He’s an eye surgeon — a man of vision. He has learned how to deliver perfection, and to do it despite crippling obstacles. As a young man, a brand-new obstetrician, he contracted rheumatoid arthritis and watched helplessly as his fingers slowly twisted, fused, and grew useless for delivering babies. So he started over, this time studying ophthalmology. He managed to design his own instruments to suit his hands, and these tools enabled him to do as many as 100 surgeries a day. He became the most admired cataract surgeon in India.

Twenty-five years later, he confronted another potentially crippling obstacle: retirement. In 1976, facing the prospect of social shelving at age 57, he opened a 12-bed eye hospital in his brother’s home in Madurai, India. Today, he runs five hospitals that perform more than 180,000 operations each year. Seventy percent of his patients are charity cases; the remaining 30% seek him out and pay for his services because the quality of his work is world-class. He is a doctor to the eyes and a leader to the soul.

Tossing all market intelligence to the wind, Aravind Eye Hospital has managed to create a huge demand by the quality of its service and the education its customers. This is one of the lessons that Rubin takes away from Aravind:

Give people a new experience, one that deeply changes their lives, make it affordable, and eventually you change the whole world. And your customers become your marketers.

In the end, to get more insight into the ideals of a great man, read Dr. V’s response to Rubin’s question:

I ask Dr. V. a simple question designed to get him to talk about his unique vision: “What are your gifts?” I ask him. Dr. V. replies, “People thank me for giving them sight.” This is no error of translation, no slipup of English. Dr. V. considers his gifts to be the things that he has given others, not what he possesses.

There are many lessons to be learnt from this single man and his shared vision.

Find the rest of the must-read article here.
Image Courtesy: World People’s Blog

His name is Raja, but he is more popularly known as “Auto Raja”. Once a youth given to gambling, drinking and even stealing money from his home, Raja left home when he was 15, and experienced first hand the hardships of living on the streets. Sleeping on the roads and eating from dustbins on the streets of Bangalore taught him about the realities of life. Now, at 41, he has rescued over 3000 people from the rough streets over the past 12 years, and offers them hope and rehabilitation at his New Ark Mission of India, also called the Home of Hope.

Auto Raja, as the name suggests, took to driving an auto rickshaw to earn a living. However, as he plied his way around the city, he was struck by the sufferings of the homeless on the streets. Though he had meager means of income himself, he was so moved by the plight of these people that he had to give in and start helping them. Madhumitha B writes more in Deccan Herald about the inspiration behind this man and his mission:

Most people feel the need to help the underprivileged but it’s always only a select few who go the entire mile. For Raja, it was a constant struggle with his conscience until he gave in one day to help a person on the street and from then on, he gradually set up a place they can call home. “I began to realise that this was my calling. I felt a sense of satisfaction, an inner bliss everytime I helped someone. It was very difficult but I strongly believe that if you help the poor, God will help you and that keeps me going,” says Raja.

It doesn’t stop with providing a place to stay. Raja also provides three wholesome meals a day, medical care as well as round-the-clock presence. “While the men and women have separate areas to stay, I have moved in here along with my immediate family where we stay together with the children we have sheltered,” he says. In return, daddy as he is referred to by all of them, is blessed with lots of love and affection. This, he says, is a reward in itself.

Surviving mainly on charity and grants, the home is housing 300 inmates at present, with a capacity for only a 100. With limited help, Raja has still been managing to provide food, clothes and medical help to his inmates. The home has about 15 staff members, some of whom are senior inmates. What about the inmates themselves? ThaIndian News reports in this feature:

The oldest inmate of the home is Tatha, a 101-year-old man, who is fondly called “anna” – meaning elder brother in the Kannada language – by other inmates and staff.
“I am almost blind and had been roaming the city’s roads without food for days. I was rescued from the streets by Raja’s team members almost a year back and since then I have been staying here. I am lucky to get a home, many are still suffering and dying on the streets,” said Tatha.
The youngest inmate is a one-year-old girl who is yet to be named. She was rescued by the team almost a year ago.
“We rescued her as a newborn from a garbage bin in the city. She is cute and we will celebrate her birthday Jan 30, the day she was brought to the home. We will also name her on that day,” smiled Padma, a staff member.
Some inmates trained in various vocations at the home are now leading independent lives. Around 1,000 destitutes have died in dignity in the home in the last 12 years.

While the going is tough for this Home of Hope, we do hope that “Auto Raja” goes a long way in his noble cause and receives greater support from various individuals and organizations along the route.

Read more about this personality and his work in Deccan Herald and ThaIndian News.

Image Courtesy: www.newarkmission.org