Government tries its best to solve various types of social – educational- healthcare –environmental problems through its various departments / agencies but still lot many things remain to be done. In our country many, either in individual capacity or through organization (Non-Government organization / Not for Profit organization), are carrying out various activities in the field of legal aids, child protection, educational, environmental, health care related. Generally, they do work as per government programs / policy or due to personal reason.

 Most of such individuals/ organizations carry out activities by receiving donations, grant from government or some schemes of CSR. It means they depend upon others for financial help. Very few organizations are financially independent of others by offering products / services to others, generating adequate income from products / services. Those who are carrying out activities in this manner generally face problem of financial crunch and so they try to employ less persons and may be offering less salary. 

There is every possibility that the employee may lack experience or qualification to carry out work effectively. When you become volunteer in such organization, their activities can be done in better way and it will benefit all, you – organization and those who receive services. You may ask that when we can earn money why should we join such organization and offer free service.

There are many advantages of working as volunteer,

•  If you are a student and you have worked as a volunteer with any organization, you will create a better impression in the mind of employer. You will convey a message that you are a socially responsible person and sensitive to needy.

• We live in society and we depend upon each other for our existence. When you work as a volunteer, you are paying back to society. You can be inspiration to others.

• When you work as a volunteer and interact with others, you will develop a habit of listening others, understand their difficulty-belief-views and will become sympathetic, become more human emotionally. This will help you in other walks of the life also and you earn respect.

• Your network of influence will be expanded and this will help in your job / business or in other problems.

• You will get satisfaction of doing good for others, create positive environment. There is a possibility that you may reduce making complains of your problems/inconvenience /hardship.

• You may over a period of time, help organization to solve their problems or help in development by using your newly acquired experience and knowledge.

• YOU MAY BECOME INSTRUMENTAL IN CHANGING LIFE OF OTHERS. Your volunteering will help blind / low vision and visually impaired, to equip this population to live daily life better, easier and allow them to have an opportunity to live almost independently. You can help them by becoming a volunteer:

1. Reader for blind / low vision/ visually impaired / non-educated person.

2. Writer for blind / low vision / visually impaired during examinations / assignments.

3. Create educational material for blind / low vision/ visually impaired (text – audio – braille and tactile format).

4.Translate content from one language to another language.

5.Accompany students to go from one place to another place.

6.Accompany patients to go to eye care service providers.

7.Teach English – Basic computers – Educational apps – any subject of study.

8.Play games and sports (Internal or external) with blind/low vision / visually impaired person.

9.Help in procuring Assistive technology devices or teach how to operate device.

Meaning of charity: Generosity and helpfulness especially towards the needy or suffering. It can be also aid given to those in an institution engaged in relief of poor raising funds from various sources.

Why should we do charity? Almost all cultures speak about merits of giving back to society. Charity is mentioned in works of eminent writers, thinkers and leaders extensively and in all religions. For many giving back requires personal reasons.

Some of the reasons are:

Feeling of purpose: Those who give to charity are participative in a cause that is larger and more significant than them. They give to organization which makes a difference and give help to needy. Studies have shown that those who give charity find themselves experience an overall improved sense of happiness.

The ability to make a difference: Even the smallest of donations can make a large impact. Making a difference enables people to feel a mutual sense of hope, fulfilment and purpose.

Create an example for your children/family members and friends: Your enthusiasm for giving back to society can definitely encourage those around you. Whenever possible take your children, family members and friends in fund raising campaign. Charity can become an opportunity for bonding and togetherness and will be more satisfying than general get-together.

It creates a better world.

Charity reduces poverty, hunger etc.

Charity is also done to claim tax deductions.

There is a professional, in India, coaching in Digital Marketing and he is having a strong community of around 14000 (students whom he has trained). He believes that before earning money you have to learn to give money by doing charity. He along with his community members are doing regular charity every month and cumulatively per year, they are doing charity of approximately two crore rupees.

Types of charity:

Educational charity: It includes paying for fees, uniform, books, transportation cost, infrastructure development etc.

Health charity: It includes paying for screening, investigation, medicines, treatment, operation, rehabilitation, food, transportation, research etc.

Food charity: It covers paying for food, free or at a much-reduced rates to needy.

Environmental charity: It covers everything related making environment clean (air, water, land and space etc)

Animal charity: Charity done for protection of cruelty against animals, treatment etc.

Religious charity: It covers all aspects related to religion.

Community development charity: Disabled, LGBTQA, Caste based, and Products/service-based associations.

Human services charity: Youth development, child protection, violence against women etc.

International NGOs: They carry out many charitable activities across the world and so they need funds to meet expenses. For example: Sight Savers, Seva Foundation (US based)

How often should you do charity? Every month, regularly.

How much charity should you do? It varies from person to person but those who do regular charity every month, do 3 to 5 % of their income.

How to choose organization for charity?

First of all, decide the cause for which you want to do charity. Search for organization doing work matching your cause. Now narrow down for shortlisting organization depending upon since how long the organization is working, is it a private trust or public trust, its impact in improving the quality of life of beneficiary or changing their life, extent of transparency through declaring performance in annual report (printed or on their website or electronically generated newsletter, ranking of NGO by ranking agency (National or International). Such a practice is used when you want to donate substantial amount or amount on regular basis.

Generally, donation is collected by person in whom giver have a faith and respect his words.

In our country there are many NGOs (Non-Government Organizations). They carry out various programs / activities in the fields of education – health – environment – mental health – malnutrition – hunger – elimination of poverty – social injustice etc. Because of such NGOs both, government and society are getting lot of benefits. Government cannot reach everywhere so whenever possible, government takes the help of NGOs.

In general, most of NGOs do not have required resources (staff, different skills to run, office equipment and/or vehicles for transportation) and to run the organization they have to depend upon donation from individuals / companies or government grants. It is observed that stream of donation is reducing day by day.

NGOs to become self-reliant should generate income by offering various products or services or both. There are some NGOs working in this manner.

I feel that NGOs and shops/companies/banks/Government departments / educational institutions, of all types should come in contact with each other and purchase items like stationary, cleaning material, uniforms, agarbattis, diyas & candles, towels, bed sheets, snacks items etc from NGOs. This will increase income of NGOs. If possible, NGOs should try to run skills development training. We as individual also can purchase items from NGOs.

Blind Schools students are making beautiful cane furniture from bamboos and from wood.

Similarly, we can prepare audio content for blind and low vision students. This work can be done also by NGO working for physically handicapped and it will help each other.

We all have to think what can we contribute to help disabled people who are thrown out of main stream life so these people after getting appropriate skill training can stand on their

own and earn with respect and instead of burden on family, society and nation, they become contributor.

What is needed is a system to create and maintain it for above objective in mind.

Whether you like it or not money is required in living day to day life and for many more things in life. Without money life is really full of hardship and difficult one.

There are some who do not believe in having any insurance. They say that they have systematic money saving and investment habit so they will always have adequate money to face any situation in life.

It is observed that almost everyone has ups and downs and particularly if you have a major accident or some illness, the treatment for the same is very costly. You are put in an awkward condition and how to arrange required money becomes a serious problem. No doubt, in general family members, friends, colleagues and some organizations will help but that may not be sufficient. Everyone has some limit, up to which he can help. Sometimes you have to sell your ornaments and all assets and still you fall short of required money.

Saving and investing is a good habit but in today’s working pattern EVERYONE MUST HAVE ADEQUATE LIFE, PERSONAL ACCIDENT AND MEDICAL INSURANCE.

Life Insurance: First of all, head of family, on whose earning you can meet all types of expenses MUST BE ADEQUATELY insured. This is the first priority. Always select TERM insurance policy (don’t take other policies which mixes return on investment) because the purpose is to get maximum protection at lowest premium and not what you get back as investment earning. All other types of policies will give you much lesser amount of insurance cover while charging you much higher premium.

Personal Accident Insurance: If your working involves lot of travelling or working in conditions which are risky, you must take personal accident insurance. At a nominal premium you get good cover depending upon your earning. It is very useful in case of having accident.

Medical Insurance: since last few years, medical treatment is getting costly and it looks in future it will still become costlier. You will need money for treatment so please consult an experienced person and take adequate amount of medical insurance for all your family members. In absence of such insurance, all your money may be used and still medical treatment bill will remain unpaid.

Government schemes: For economically weaker sections, Government has schemes as well as Health cards. Please enrol and get that without wasting anytime. Take the benefits of schemes and Health cards.

While taking insurance I request you take insurance from companies where your money remains in our own country.