Sam Pitroda chairman of India's National Knowledge Commission, believes the United States' model of a liberal arts education is applicable in the revamping of higher education in India and that such a model is very much in the works.
He noted during a conference on Higher Education Policies in India, China and the United States, "We recognised early that too much focus on engineering and medical education has created a situation in India where liberal arts really did not get the kind of attention it deserved."
Pitroda said, "A good liberal arts education is important to produce leaders. India has now begun to recognizse that we need not only world class engineering education, we also need world-class liberal arts education."
"And, we agreed that the model we have in (University of) Chicago or Harvard is a model that we need to look at, but it needs to be Indianised -- it has to be of a local context," he said.
Later, in an interview with rediff.com, Pitroda elaborated, "Liberal arts is very critical to provide long-term leadership since there is a vacuum of leadership at many levels in India."
Thus, he said it's imperative to have such an education in the higher education curricula "whether it's understanding of psychology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, economics -- all these subjects that really have not gotten the kind of attention they deserve in India."
"You just can't produce leaders by just producing mathematicians and scientists and engineers and doctors," he argued, and reiterated, "India needs leaders at many, many levels. We need leaders all over. We need leaders in education, leaders in science, leaders in industry, leaders in NGOs, leaders in government, leaders at district level, leaders at state level, leaders for youth."
Consequently, Pitroda said, "Liberal arts is very important for that kind of effort in our producing effective leadership in India, which is sorely lacking."
He also assailed the naysayers who were skeptical about partnerships with foreign institutions in terms of alleviating India's standard of higher education and asserted that their fears and concerns, about contamination of Indian ethos by Western concepts, were highly misplaced.
"There is always the fear in the beginning whenever these things happen -- whenever you open new systems there are all kinds of fears. But the point is, we need to open our systems systematically in a manner which is in the long run beneficial to India," he said.
Pitroda argued, "We can't have a closed system if we are going to be a major global player -- education has also got to be opened up. It has got to be opened up in a manner which is suitable to us."
He also pooh-poohed the growing concern among alumni of the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management that American universities and colleges, which have been setting up shop in India, are luring the top faculty at IITs and IIMs with better compensation, thus diluting the quality of education in these premier institutions.
These alumni have also said the fact there has been no review of the compensation system for faculty at the IITs and IIMs was compounding the problem. The bureaucracy in India, they argued, did not want compensation for the faculty to be greater than their own, leading to this impasse.
Thus, they have called for some deregulation so that there can be a revamping of this system.Pitroda told rediff.com, "It is already happening. The professors are well compensated now. If you look at our Knowledge Commission portal, you'll fund that all of these things have been addressed and it is happening slowly but surely -- the pay scale of professors in India today is pretty good compared to what it used to be not even three years ago."
Pitroda said, "One of the most important things we did recently is pass the bill for Right to Education, which is the most prominent bill and nobody even noticed it. It's the first Right to Education Bill in the history of India."
"And, we are also doing a bill on higher education and these will incorporate a lot of the reforms we have called for in the Knowledge Commission regarding a lot of the things you referred to and it's already in the works," he added.
Source:
http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/aug/29/india-needs-leaders-at-many-levels-sam-pitroda.htm
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Mentor a Social Entrepreneur with Dasra Social-Impact
Dasra is launching a new, and exceptional cohort of social entrepreneurs, who are part of Dasra Social-Impact, in October. It’s a year-long program enabling social entrepreneurs, to sustainably scale their organizations, thereby dramatically accelerating and increasing their impact on some of the most marginalized communities in India.
They may be running social businesses, NGOs or hybrid organizations, but all of them need financial and strategic mentorship to create a strong business plan to access more funding and scale their activities.
This guidance is vital and I think you have valuable expertise and experience which would contribute an enormous amount to their professional development.
Some examples of the organizations taking part this year are Mann Deshi, a hybrid organization providing loans and business education to poor, illiterate rural women; Mirakle Couriers, a social business employing deaf adults as couriers and RIVER; an NGO which creates truly innovative curriculums and materials to help teachers who have large, mixed grade classes, with exceptional results.
This is an opportunity to apply your experience and business acumen,while meeting and learning from those who have incredible stories and innovative solutions to fighting poverty. Not only is it different from anything you may have done before, it’s also unique – no other program in India enables you to contribute in this way.
Alongside residential workshops, you will help them build:
• a solid business plan
• a tactical execution plan
• a clarified vision towards long-term growth and sustainability
• an improved understanding of financing options
• an expanded network of relevant contacts.
Dasra-Social Impact is looking for mentors who can commit to two days in Mumbai in the weeks of October 25th 2009, February 15th and May 31st 2010 with online and phone communication fortnightly.
Mentors are also required with specific skills in finance, HR,communications, project management, fundraising or industry experience.
We generally need mentors in Mumbai but also these locations: Pune, Satara (MH), Kolhapur (MH),Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mandapalle (AP), Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jammu, Kutch.
Your skills will directly help them realize their vision.
If you feel you might not have the time to commit this year, please pass it onto to someone who may be interested.
Contact:
Ms Zuhura Plummer
Dasra
Fern Mansion, 1st Floor, 29 St Francis AvenueNext to Khar Subway, Santa Cruz (W) Mumbai 400 054T +91 22 3240 3453
E zuhura@dasra.org
M +91 98 19 46 82 93
W www.dasra.org
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
They may be running social businesses, NGOs or hybrid organizations, but all of them need financial and strategic mentorship to create a strong business plan to access more funding and scale their activities.
This guidance is vital and I think you have valuable expertise and experience which would contribute an enormous amount to their professional development.
Some examples of the organizations taking part this year are Mann Deshi, a hybrid organization providing loans and business education to poor, illiterate rural women; Mirakle Couriers, a social business employing deaf adults as couriers and RIVER; an NGO which creates truly innovative curriculums and materials to help teachers who have large, mixed grade classes, with exceptional results.
This is an opportunity to apply your experience and business acumen,while meeting and learning from those who have incredible stories and innovative solutions to fighting poverty. Not only is it different from anything you may have done before, it’s also unique – no other program in India enables you to contribute in this way.
Alongside residential workshops, you will help them build:
• a solid business plan
• a tactical execution plan
• a clarified vision towards long-term growth and sustainability
• an improved understanding of financing options
• an expanded network of relevant contacts.
Dasra-Social Impact is looking for mentors who can commit to two days in Mumbai in the weeks of October 25th 2009, February 15th and May 31st 2010 with online and phone communication fortnightly.
Mentors are also required with specific skills in finance, HR,communications, project management, fundraising or industry experience.
We generally need mentors in Mumbai but also these locations: Pune, Satara (MH), Kolhapur (MH),Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mandapalle (AP), Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jammu, Kutch.
Your skills will directly help them realize their vision.
If you feel you might not have the time to commit this year, please pass it onto to someone who may be interested.
Contact:
Ms Zuhura Plummer
Dasra
Fern Mansion, 1st Floor, 29 St Francis AvenueNext to Khar Subway, Santa Cruz (W) Mumbai 400 054T +91 22 3240 3453
E zuhura@dasra.org
M +91 98 19 46 82 93
W www.dasra.org
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Hub Taster Invitation
The Hub Taster
15th- 20th of September, 2009
15th- 20th of September, 2009
The invitation
Come experience The Hub! Use the Hub Taster week to work free of charge out of The Hub. We will provide work spaces, wireless internet,stimulating conversations, interesting people to speak with and of course lots of chai!
Who can come?
Anyone interested in working alongside or meeting people with ideas and passion for social change.You could be a musician, changemaker, journalist,accountant, entrepreneur – all you need to bring is a laptop and enthusiasm to connect with like minded people.
How to book?
Just turn up on any day during the Hub Taster week or call us on 022 3222 0475
Where is The Hub?
4th Floor Candelar Building 26 St John Baptist Road Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050,India.
Landmark - Above Dilshad Beauty Salon
What is the Hub?
The Hub is a one of its kind in Asia a collaborative space for people with ideas and passion for social change to work out of, meet, connect, learn and grow. The Hub is an initiative of UnLtd India, a foundation supporting start up social entrepreneurs in India.
To find out more mail us at bombay.hub@unltdindia.org or call on 022 3222 0475
“Joining The Hub is a key milestone for a
start up organisation like ours. It gives us
inspiration and networking opportunities
to reach out to many like minded people.”
- Sailesh Mishra, Silver Innings
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
CHIEF OF PARTY required by project funded by USAID – India
Job Title: CHIEF OF PARTY, PROJECT SAMASTHA (Funded by USAID – India)
Location: Bangalore
Introduction
Samastha is a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support project which is being implemented in 12 districts in Karnataka and five districts in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The main goal of the project is to reduce the transmission and mitigate the impact of HIV in selected districts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, with a focus on rural areas. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). University of Manitoba (UoM) is the prime grant recipient for this project and the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) is its lead implementation partner in India. The project began in October 2006, with a five-year duration.
As the leading agency in the partnership, UoM serves as Samastha’s overall technical advisor. Samastha also receives technical backing from Engender Health (EH) on issues relating to improvement in the quality of care/support — including care of OVCs — and on collaboration in HIV-TB service delivery, and from Population Services International (PSI) on strategic communication and the social marketing of condoms. Assistance for systems strengthening, care/support and capacity building for healthcare providers is provided by Swasti, Snehadaan and St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, respectively. Work at the field level is carried out in collaboration with CBOs and NGOs. This consortium project works in collaboration with NACO, the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) of both states and the District AIDS Prevention and Control Units (DAPCUs), with the objective of strengthening healthcare delivery systems & ensuring that best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention and care are developed to influence national and state programmes.
Samastha offers:
HIV prevention services directed at individuals who are most at risk in rural Karnataka
HIV prevention services for the general community in rural Karnataka, with a special focus on at-risk youth and other vulnerable groups
Community-based care/support and treatment services in both rural and urban areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Capacity building and strengthening of healthcare delivery systems in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Advocacy at all levels to create an enabling environment and mitigate the impact of the HIV epidemic
Data gathering in project areas and ongoing monitoring/ evaluation of project outcomes
Consolidation of learnings by drawing on best practices from other projects and networking with partners
Reason to Hire
The University of Manitoba seeks to hire a Chief of Party (COP), Project Samastha; as the outgoing COP is moving on to another role. The incumbent will be responsible to provide leadership support to the design, implementation & management of this multi-stakeholder consortium project, to accomplish the mission of delivering a comprehensive programme that will provide HIV and AIDS prevention, care/support and treatment programmes and services to vulnerable and affected populations in Karnataka & AP. The project is coming to the end of its third year and the incumbent will be expected to take on the challenge of leveraging on existing programmes & best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention that have been developed so far; to influence national and state programmes.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Developing and finalizing all aspects of project design, implementation and evaluation, in conjunction with key technical staff of the University of Manitoba, KHPT and other partners.
Developing implementation plans, annual action plans and budgets.
Recruiting and supervising project staff.
Providing technical support to project implementation activities.
Managing contracts with implementing partners, including non-government organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs).
Providing technical support to staff and to implementing partner NGOs and CBOs.
Monitoring and evaluating project outputs and reporting on results, including providing reports as required for USAID/PEPFAR.
Liaising with USAID/PEPFAR and its staff in India as required.
Preparing and approving project narrative and financial reports.
Working very closely with the states (Karnataka and AP) AIDS control programmes and NACO, and providing technical assistance as required.
Qualifications and Skills Specification
Minimum 10 years of experience, with the ability to provide strategic leadership oversight to the design, management & implementation of complex multi-stakeholder engagement projects/programmes.
Experience of working on public health (technical knowledge), and on HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes is desirable.
Leadership & ability to manage high caliber/high performing teams.
Excellent relationship management skills; with the ability to network & build sustainable partnerships with multiple stakeholders (NGOs, CBO’s, donors, government); especially demonstrated skills & ability to work in partnership with government agencies.
·Very strong written & verbal communication skills in English.
Third Sector Partners, a leading senior management and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by The University of Manitoba/KHPT to hire a Chief of Party (COP), Project Samastha . Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a covernote to application.samastha@gmail.com or contact 022-24371068/1194.
Last date for submission of applications is 15th September 2009.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Location: Bangalore
Introduction
Samastha is a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support project which is being implemented in 12 districts in Karnataka and five districts in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The main goal of the project is to reduce the transmission and mitigate the impact of HIV in selected districts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, with a focus on rural areas. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). University of Manitoba (UoM) is the prime grant recipient for this project and the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) is its lead implementation partner in India. The project began in October 2006, with a five-year duration.
As the leading agency in the partnership, UoM serves as Samastha’s overall technical advisor. Samastha also receives technical backing from Engender Health (EH) on issues relating to improvement in the quality of care/support — including care of OVCs — and on collaboration in HIV-TB service delivery, and from Population Services International (PSI) on strategic communication and the social marketing of condoms. Assistance for systems strengthening, care/support and capacity building for healthcare providers is provided by Swasti, Snehadaan and St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, respectively. Work at the field level is carried out in collaboration with CBOs and NGOs. This consortium project works in collaboration with NACO, the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) of both states and the District AIDS Prevention and Control Units (DAPCUs), with the objective of strengthening healthcare delivery systems & ensuring that best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention and care are developed to influence national and state programmes.
Samastha offers:
HIV prevention services directed at individuals who are most at risk in rural Karnataka
HIV prevention services for the general community in rural Karnataka, with a special focus on at-risk youth and other vulnerable groups
Community-based care/support and treatment services in both rural and urban areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Capacity building and strengthening of healthcare delivery systems in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Advocacy at all levels to create an enabling environment and mitigate the impact of the HIV epidemic
Data gathering in project areas and ongoing monitoring/ evaluation of project outcomes
Consolidation of learnings by drawing on best practices from other projects and networking with partners
Reason to Hire
The University of Manitoba seeks to hire a Chief of Party (COP), Project Samastha; as the outgoing COP is moving on to another role. The incumbent will be responsible to provide leadership support to the design, implementation & management of this multi-stakeholder consortium project, to accomplish the mission of delivering a comprehensive programme that will provide HIV and AIDS prevention, care/support and treatment programmes and services to vulnerable and affected populations in Karnataka & AP. The project is coming to the end of its third year and the incumbent will be expected to take on the challenge of leveraging on existing programmes & best practices in HIV/AIDS prevention that have been developed so far; to influence national and state programmes.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Developing and finalizing all aspects of project design, implementation and evaluation, in conjunction with key technical staff of the University of Manitoba, KHPT and other partners.
Developing implementation plans, annual action plans and budgets.
Recruiting and supervising project staff.
Providing technical support to project implementation activities.
Managing contracts with implementing partners, including non-government organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs).
Providing technical support to staff and to implementing partner NGOs and CBOs.
Monitoring and evaluating project outputs and reporting on results, including providing reports as required for USAID/PEPFAR.
Liaising with USAID/PEPFAR and its staff in India as required.
Preparing and approving project narrative and financial reports.
Working very closely with the states (Karnataka and AP) AIDS control programmes and NACO, and providing technical assistance as required.
Qualifications and Skills Specification
Minimum 10 years of experience, with the ability to provide strategic leadership oversight to the design, management & implementation of complex multi-stakeholder engagement projects/programmes.
Experience of working on public health (technical knowledge), and on HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes is desirable.
Leadership & ability to manage high caliber/high performing teams.
Excellent relationship management skills; with the ability to network & build sustainable partnerships with multiple stakeholders (NGOs, CBO’s, donors, government); especially demonstrated skills & ability to work in partnership with government agencies.
·Very strong written & verbal communication skills in English.
Third Sector Partners, a leading senior management and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by The University of Manitoba/KHPT to hire a Chief of Party (COP), Project Samastha . Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a covernote to application.samastha@gmail.com or contact 022-24371068/1194.
Last date for submission of applications is 15th September 2009.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Retired teachers, traders may make it to banks' business correspondents list
Kiranawalas, petrol pump owners and retired teachers may soon be able to function as business correspondents for banks. The move forms part of the Reserve Bank of India’s attempt to bring more of rural India in the organised credit fold. Apart from these constituents, RBI has proposed to expand the definition of business correspondent to include small saving schemes and insurance company agents too.
BCs are allowed to function as banking agents in areas devoid of bank branches. Besides enabling opening of accounts for new customers, BCs are permitted to undertake activities such as disbursal of small value credit, recovery of dues, collection of small-value deposits, sale of micro insurance, mutual funds, pension products and other third-party products, and receipt and delivery of small-value remittances/ other payment instruments.
A report by the banking regulator has also suggested that public call office (PCO) operators, self-help groups linked to banks and select non-banking finance companies could also be included under the definition of BC. These are some of the suggestions on the BC model made by a working group headed by RBI’s chief general manager Vijaya Bhaskar.
The report has dwelt on the long-term feasibility of BCs, suggesting that banks will have to relook the compensation structure of such functionaries. The report says that BCs help banks in taking their low-value, high-volume transactions out of the branch premises and to that extent there is a potential saving in costs. These savings could be passed on to the BCs. Further, it says, banks should consider bearing the initial set-up cost of the BCs and support them in the initial stages. Lenders may also need to bear the costs relating to transit insurance of the cash handled by BCs.
While making the recommendations, RBI has noted that the BC model will play a very important role for banks in achieving financial inclusion. Studies have indicated that nearly 70% of India’s population do not have bank accounts.
The working group has also noted that BCs should be used not only for opening and servicing no-frills accounts, but also for the full range of financial activities. At present, NGOs and MFIs set up under the Societies/ Trust Acts, Section 25 companies, post office and retired bank employees, former servicemen and government employees are among those eligible to become BCs.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Policy/Retired-teachers-traders-may-make-it-to-banks-business-correspondents-list/articleshow/4913051.cms
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
BCs are allowed to function as banking agents in areas devoid of bank branches. Besides enabling opening of accounts for new customers, BCs are permitted to undertake activities such as disbursal of small value credit, recovery of dues, collection of small-value deposits, sale of micro insurance, mutual funds, pension products and other third-party products, and receipt and delivery of small-value remittances/ other payment instruments.
A report by the banking regulator has also suggested that public call office (PCO) operators, self-help groups linked to banks and select non-banking finance companies could also be included under the definition of BC. These are some of the suggestions on the BC model made by a working group headed by RBI’s chief general manager Vijaya Bhaskar.
The report has dwelt on the long-term feasibility of BCs, suggesting that banks will have to relook the compensation structure of such functionaries. The report says that BCs help banks in taking their low-value, high-volume transactions out of the branch premises and to that extent there is a potential saving in costs. These savings could be passed on to the BCs. Further, it says, banks should consider bearing the initial set-up cost of the BCs and support them in the initial stages. Lenders may also need to bear the costs relating to transit insurance of the cash handled by BCs.
While making the recommendations, RBI has noted that the BC model will play a very important role for banks in achieving financial inclusion. Studies have indicated that nearly 70% of India’s population do not have bank accounts.
The working group has also noted that BCs should be used not only for opening and servicing no-frills accounts, but also for the full range of financial activities. At present, NGOs and MFIs set up under the Societies/ Trust Acts, Section 25 companies, post office and retired bank employees, former servicemen and government employees are among those eligible to become BCs.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Policy/Retired-teachers-traders-may-make-it-to-banks-business-correspondents-list/articleshow/4913051.cms
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Fundraising & Communications Training Programme for NGO and CSR in Mumbai
SPJIMR center for DOCC presents
“iCODEVGURUKUL”
Fundraising & Communications Training
For ‘Not For Profits’ And CSR Organisation With
Real Practitioners And
Successful Fundraising Experts
“iCODEVGURUKUL”
Fundraising & Communications Training
For ‘Not For Profits’ And CSR Organisation With
Real Practitioners And
Successful Fundraising Experts
on
9th & 10th October 2009 at
SPJIMR, Mumbai
Organised by
Silver Innings
• Want to begin a social venture?
• Want to learn the latest tools & techniques?
• Ready to raise money for your NGO?
• Wondering what the fundraising science is about?
Fundraising is not about going out with a begging bowl but about, planning, conceptualizing and working with a long term strategy. To involve citizens with the cause and not just asking them for money.
To find out more, Register and attend this workshop NOW and learn the art and science of fundraising.
Themes:-
The Meaning Of Fundraising
Creating A Winning Strategy
Ethics Of Fundraising
Legalities In Fundraising
Inspiring Support And Not Just Asking For Money
Direct Mail Appeals
Planning Small Local Fundraising Events
How To Write Winning Proposals
Raising Funds From The Government
Partnerships With Corporate
How To Plan And Start A Social Venture On A Shoestring
Planning Communications
Workshop Features:
• Globally Experienced Hands On Fundraisers.
• Explores Fundamentals, Specialised Developments & Fundraising Training.
• Tangible Outcomes: Make Plans That Work!
• As A First All Participants Shall Be Given Handholding And Out Of The Box Ideas To Create Their Own Strategies By The Gurus
Who should attend?
This workshop is designed to support Fundraisers, CSR Heads, Social Communications professionals, NGO Directors, Brand Managers, Event managers & others who are inclined towards organizing fundraising events & functionaries of NGOs from Maharashtra & Mumbai.
Why to attend?
Real Time Learning For Planning & Executing Events With 360-degree Solutions, From Specialist Gurus Who Have Hands On Experience Plus Theoretical & Practical Knowledge. This Shall Also Be A Good Forum To Build Relationships With The Gurus And People From Various Sectors, Share Ideas And Forge Alliances To Plan Fundraising Events & Campaigns As Joint Ventures. To Top It As A First (No Other Workshop Has Ever Done This Before In India Or Overseas), All Fundraisers & Delegates From Ngo’s Shall Be Given Handholding & Assistance By Icongo For Developing A Successful Fundraising Strategy .
How to Register:
3500/- INR Non Residential (inclusive of lunches, refreshments and materials) . There is a 500/- rupee early bird discount until 31st August 2009.
We offer a special registration fee to NGOs sending two or more staff members as this is the best way to ensure that you can take these tools and implement them in your NGO!
Venue Address:
Centre for Development of Corporate Citizenship, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Munshi Nagar, Dadabhai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai 400058 .Tel: 61460316,
Email: nirja@spjimr.org ,Website: http://www.spjimr.org/
Fee Collection Center:
Payment to be made in name of “Silver Innings”
Contact Address: Silver Innings , C/o: The Hub, 4th Floor, Candelar Building, 26 St John Baptist Road, Near Mount Mary Steps, Next to Smokin Joes Pizza shop, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050
Contact for Registration (Silver Innings):
Ms. Hemshikha Gupta - 09987104233, Email: silverinnings@gmail.com
Mr. Sailesh Mishra - 09819819145 Email: sailesh2000@gmail.com
Contact Persons from iCONGO :
Ms Snigdha Narain: 09711773625 email: snigdhamjn@gmail.com
Mr. Hunar Brar: hunarbrar@gmail.com
Ms Snigdha Narain: 09711773625 email: snigdhamjn@gmail.com
Mr. Hunar Brar: hunarbrar@gmail.com
Please send the filled-in form along with the payment to:
Silver Innings, C/o The Hub, 4th Floor, Candelar Building, 26 St John Baptist Road, Near Mount Mary Steps, Next to Smokin Joes Pizza shop, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050
Note: Last date for registration is 20th Sep 2009.
There will be no refund of registration fees in event of cancellation by the participant.
Note: Revenues Generated From This Workshop Shall Be
Utilised For Cause Campaigning And Creating Care And Dignity
For The Senior Citizens Of India
THE SPEAKERS:
Shibani Ghosh’s interest lay in making Documentaries and she and her team started a Film Production house called Ranima films. Her first film Sadak Chaap on street children of Bombay won her the best film award at MIFF ( Mumbai International Film Festival). Sahas premiered at the Women's NGO conclave in China and was subsequently telecast on Doordarshan and on BBC and ZDF Television. Ever since Ranima Films has worked on films for NGO’s, the UN, Corporations , CSR & HR films.
Rtn.Wg.Cdr(Retd)SS Roychoudhury
A well known name in the development sector as a professional fundraiser for the last 18 yrs. He has served as country heads, Resource Mobilization for national level charities like Help Age India, GCCI, Deepalaya & as senior Manager, Technology Development of Development Alternatives.
Bosco Fernandes
Possessing over 20-years’ experience in NGO-activities, FMCG-Sales, Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising. Achieved outstanding credentials on the NGO-scenario, providing funding solutions and back-up, developing strategic alliances with Corporate Houses, networking & generating wide-canvas exposure for reaching-out to Below Poverty Line sections of society with extensive benefits.
Prof.Nirja Mattoo
Center for DOCC is at present being spearheaded by Ms .Nirja Mattoo, who brings with her an invaluable experience of more then 25 years in the field of development, voluntary action and corporate citizenship's. Ms Nirja Mattoo was one of the seventeen nominees out of 80 nominations received from all over the world, to make it to the final round of the ASPEN Faculty Awards held in New York in 2005 and 2008.
Jeroninio Almeida
With over 14 yrs of experience in Business Sector, Jerry founded iCONGO and drives the movement to encourage social justice & citizen action through the people sector, as the chief volunteer & has been conducting weekend training programs (pro bono) for various NGOs over the past 5 years to encourage practical, ethical and credible fundraising to develop a long term ecosystem for the sector. Jerry also speaks at various high profile forums in India and overseas on CSR, Corporate Governance, Retail, Brand management, HR, Social & Corporate Communications, Cause Related Marketing, Media and Event management.
About iCONGO:
Over the past 8 years the founders of iCONGO have been training and mentoring various NGO leaders and fundraisers for creating fundraising strategies and also handholding them for implementation (some feedback is appended below). We at iCONGO teach on the basic foundation that “fundraising is not just about MONEY, HONEY!!” (as is misunderstood by most in India). It is about developing a credible ecosystem to involve people for the cause. In fact, most matured fundraising countries term fundraising as DEVELOMENT and fundraisers are called DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, because PEOPLE IN FUNDRAISING are NOBLE PROFESSIONALS who DEVELOP a community movement for addressing any cause.
Earlier this year we founded iCODEVGURUKUL and under its aegis we conducted the first specialist mentoring for development workshop on “Planning , selling and managing fundraising events”. The Unique proposition was that for the first time it was “Practical fundraising gyan by specialist gurus for creating supporter involvement” and not just gyan by people who don’t have hands on experience or people from overseas who do not understand the Indian ecosystem which is very different from the US or European matured fundraising ecosystem.
About SPJIMR:
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S.P.Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) one of the top ten B-schools in the country. They have been proactive in participating in activities of relevance to the Indian society beyond MBA and similar programs. The Centre for Development of Corporate Citizenship (DOCC) is one such pedagogic initiative.
About Silver Innings:
Silver Innings is a Social Entrepreneur organization working towards creating Elder Friendly World where Ageing becomes a Positive and Rewarding Experience.Silver Inning Foundation is part of this group which is an NGO working with Elderly. Through its proactive approach and dedicated leadership of Sailesh Mishra , Silver Innings won 'Karamveer' National Award 2008 and is partially supported by Unltd India. http://www.silverinnings.com/
Testimonials:
It was so refreshing to have such an out of the box presentation after having
attended so many mundane and systematic workshops. I really mean it I had
attended so many of them!1. It was very innovative, 2. It made us think
differently, 3. I liked the concept of “getting to feel for the cause, actually getting attached to the cause and not merely funding! Just like that without knowing the work”. This helps in gaining partners for future not necessarily MONEY! Anjali Chaudhry, Advocacy Coordinator
This is brilliant. Just the stuff one needs. Meena Vaidyanathan, Head, External Communications, HCL Technologies Ltd.
Dear Jerry, Thank you so very much for taking the session on events at Bhavan. The participants were really so happy with the session.
Rati, Regional Director- South Asia, The Resource Alliance
Hi Jerry, Thank you for the session that you conducted on the 27th. It threw light on different aspects of event planning and management and was very enriching. Our participants enjoyed every moment of it and left greatly enthused. We look forward to having you again with us.
Rajshri Sen, Regional Program Officer (South Asia), The Resource Alliance
We have received wonderful feedback from the students and the audience on
your presentation and it kept them mesmerized throughout. It was our privilege to have you as a speaker of your stature.
Rajarshi Ray, President - Net Impact club, Indian school of Business (ISB)
The presentation was simple and spoke of methods that need implementation.
Kalpana, DVAF
We all enjoyed and participated your session. Now we came to know instead of taking lot of responsibilities there is the need to make CITIZENS -Socially Responsible. I would love to share your valuable ideas again.
Rakesh Kumar, R
Need more workshops just like this one? Content is good and thought provoking.
Helen V. Sheila, Rural Integrated Development Agency (RIDA)
Dear Jerry, Thank you so very much for taking the session on events at Bhavan. The participants were really so happy with the session.
Rati, Regional Director- South Asia, The Resource Alliance
Hi Jerry, Thank you for the session that you conducted on the 27th. It threw light on different aspects of event planning and management and was very enriching. Our participants enjoyed every moment of it and left greatly enthused. We look forward to having you again with us.
Rajshri Sen, Regional Program Officer (South Asia), The Resource Alliance
We have received wonderful feedback from the students and the audience on
your presentation and it kept them mesmerized throughout. It was our privilege to have you as a speaker of your stature.
Rajarshi Ray, President - Net Impact club, Indian school of Business (ISB)
The presentation was simple and spoke of methods that need implementation.
Kalpana, DVAF
We all enjoyed and participated your session. Now we came to know instead of taking lot of responsibilities there is the need to make CITIZENS -Socially Responsible. I would love to share your valuable ideas again.
Rakesh Kumar, R
Need more workshops just like this one? Content is good and thought provoking.
Helen V. Sheila, Rural Integrated Development Agency (RIDA)
I gained a lot from this workshop. The aim is fulfilled. The external
sessions were very good and the knowledge forum was exciting.
Shivika Garg AIESEC
It was a good experience. A new understand of the concept of
fundraising from the other side. Rishi Gupta, Plan India
A very positive impact on all of us…a new perception to the ideas.
Anurag Nirbhaya, Muskan.
Enjoyed the session. How about the follow-up say Phase II to help us
know how to find right sponsors etc. Nazia Yusuf, SN Lifestyle rejeveture
Today’s workshop was a learning processes, helped me organise my
thoughts, I go back enriched and hope to work in more organised
manner.Sudha Murgai, GM Projects & Events,Cancer Patients Aid Association.
The partner NGOs were impressed a lot on your presentation which
enabled us to get lots of input, feedback and new initiatives on Fund
Raising Strategies / Resource Mobilization which would help us to
adopt new strategies in the field of development. K.Joji, General Secretary, DVAF
This session was very fruitful and I understood the global scenario
better. It was evaluative and effective. Associating with ICONGO is
necessary in order to network well for our projects and programmes.
V. Isaac, RAPID (Rural Action for Promoting Integrated Development)
An educative presentation. C. Krupa Rao, HELPS (Health Education Leadership Promoting Society)
iCONGO : Programme Facilitators
SPJIMR: Academic Partners
Silver Innings: Organiser
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Swine Flu Tests Privatised Health Care in India
While the swine flu pandemic has not hit India too hard, it has sorely tested the country’s ailing health delivery system and its plans to remedy the situation through ‘private-public partnerships.’
Much of the drama is playing out in the western Indian city of Pune where the death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, on Aug. 3, following misdiagnosis at a private hospital where she was being treated, has led to charges in the media that the government was not doing enough contain the spread of the A(H1N1) virus.
Health authorities reacted to the death of the schoolgirl, Reeda Shaikh, by asking people who develop flu-like symptoms to report to designated government facilities for testing. That quickly resulted in panic and chaos with public facilities being swamped by people with flu-like symptoms.
In Pune, which now accounts for 12 of the 21 deaths reported since the first case surfaced on May 13, there was frenzied buying of face masks and antivirals, with large numbers of people seen queuing up to catch flights out of the city.
Confusion continued to reign in Pune regarding testing and treatment at private facilities, with the government reversing its initial order and several private hospitals defensively refusing to attend to patients suspected to be suffering from swine flu.
What happened in Pune tended to be replicated across several of India’s cities - the sense of panic and confusion as well as shortages of antivirals like ‘Tamiflu,’ spread by terse reportage on India’s numerous television channels.
It was not long before the government began to be accused of creating artificial shortages of antivirals by restricting the sales of Tamiflu and playing into the hands of the manufacturers of generic drugs and testing kits.
"It should have been obvious to the government that a few designated facilities would not be able to cope with the demand for tests and treatment," said Amit Das Gupta at the Delhi Science Forum, a non-profit public interest organisation that is engaged in issues related to science and technology. "Even in the U.S. those sick with the virus are being asked to stay at home unless they need special care."
"To put the number of deaths and infected patients being reported in perspective, it would be well to remember that some 36,000 people die in the U.S. alone every year due to ordinary influenza and related complications. As far as India is concerned it is well established that 42 percent of all deaths in this country are caused by communicable diseases," Das Gupta said.
Das Gupta also dismissed the government’s claim to have contained the spread of the disease through surveillance. "Effective surveillance depends on the existence of well-developed public health delivery systems, and in India these are in disarray as a result of shrinking budgets for public health spending," Das Gupta told IPS.
India currently spends less than one percent of its GDP on public sector healthcare, forcing the majority of people to take recourse in private medical care. Leading public health experts have for years been warning that the allocation is woefully inadequate, and Jeffrey Sachs, chair of the international advisory panel of India’s National Rural Health Mission, has suggested that the figure should be raised to around five percent of GDP.
In such a scenario the capacity of the government to intervene effectively when faced with a rapidly spreading virus like the A(H1N1) is severely limited. Experts believe that more than the precautions the government has taken - such as screening airport arrivals - India’s sub-tropical conditions may have put the brakes on the virus.
"It would have been best to let the epidemic run its natural course. Of course, extra precautions may need to be taken as winter approaches when the northern temperate areas of the country could become more vulnerable," Das Gupta said.
On Jun. 11, the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level for swine flu to ‘Phase 6,’ indicating that community level outbreaks were occurring in different parts of the world. Margaret Chan, Director General of the WHO, then admitted that it was not possible to contain or reverse the spread of the virus.
However, it was not until this week that authorities in India admitted that it was more important to contain the panic rather than the virus, which, in any case, has manifested itself as being not too different in symptoms and virulence from ordinary seasonal flu viruses.
"As the virus spreads it will slowly create immunity among people and the number of new cases will start to drop," R.K. Srivastava, India’s director general of health services, said Thursday.
But the government’s failings were exposed by a group of independent public health specialists at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health at the Jawaharlal Nehru University through a note, calling for "greater clarity in the management of and treatment of A(H1N1) so that the public is informed regarding the aetiology, treatment and management of swine flu."
"The hysteria created by the media and the knee-jerk reaction from the ministry of health and family welfare are not conducive to rational and well- informed management of the situation," said the note signed by Dr. Mohan Rao, Prof. Rama Baru, Dr. Rajib Dasgupta, Prof. Sanghmitra Acharya, Prof. K.R. Nayar, Prof. Ramila Bisht and Dr. Ritu Priya.
The JNU experts said that treatment should continue to be limited to designated public hospitals and that the government needs to set out guidelines regarding the stage at which presumptive cases, and not just laboratory confirmed cases, will be treated with specific antivirals.
Equally, they said, there was no need for the government to open up testing and treatment in the private sector, especially when the situation was ripe for unnecessary - and expensive - testing for swine flu and unnecessary over- diagnosis and treatment. "This will not only lead to resistance to the only drugs we have but widespread exploitation of people wrongly diagnosed to have swine flu," the experts said.
As for the government’s plans to seek partnerships with the private sector, India’s biggest private facility - the multi-billion dollar Apollo Hospital in the national capital - simply refused to obey a government directive for private hospitals to help out on the grounds that treating swine flu cases could put other patients at risk of cross-infections.
In a press release Apollo Hospital said: "We cannot put our patients, many of whom are immune-compromised, at risk by exposing them to the infections. We are therefore not in a position to provide facilities for H1N1 flu screening, sample collection and inpatient treatment in our campus for fear of cross- infection."
Source: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48102
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Much of the drama is playing out in the western Indian city of Pune where the death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, on Aug. 3, following misdiagnosis at a private hospital where she was being treated, has led to charges in the media that the government was not doing enough contain the spread of the A(H1N1) virus.
Health authorities reacted to the death of the schoolgirl, Reeda Shaikh, by asking people who develop flu-like symptoms to report to designated government facilities for testing. That quickly resulted in panic and chaos with public facilities being swamped by people with flu-like symptoms.
In Pune, which now accounts for 12 of the 21 deaths reported since the first case surfaced on May 13, there was frenzied buying of face masks and antivirals, with large numbers of people seen queuing up to catch flights out of the city.
Confusion continued to reign in Pune regarding testing and treatment at private facilities, with the government reversing its initial order and several private hospitals defensively refusing to attend to patients suspected to be suffering from swine flu.
What happened in Pune tended to be replicated across several of India’s cities - the sense of panic and confusion as well as shortages of antivirals like ‘Tamiflu,’ spread by terse reportage on India’s numerous television channels.
It was not long before the government began to be accused of creating artificial shortages of antivirals by restricting the sales of Tamiflu and playing into the hands of the manufacturers of generic drugs and testing kits.
"It should have been obvious to the government that a few designated facilities would not be able to cope with the demand for tests and treatment," said Amit Das Gupta at the Delhi Science Forum, a non-profit public interest organisation that is engaged in issues related to science and technology. "Even in the U.S. those sick with the virus are being asked to stay at home unless they need special care."
"To put the number of deaths and infected patients being reported in perspective, it would be well to remember that some 36,000 people die in the U.S. alone every year due to ordinary influenza and related complications. As far as India is concerned it is well established that 42 percent of all deaths in this country are caused by communicable diseases," Das Gupta said.
Das Gupta also dismissed the government’s claim to have contained the spread of the disease through surveillance. "Effective surveillance depends on the existence of well-developed public health delivery systems, and in India these are in disarray as a result of shrinking budgets for public health spending," Das Gupta told IPS.
India currently spends less than one percent of its GDP on public sector healthcare, forcing the majority of people to take recourse in private medical care. Leading public health experts have for years been warning that the allocation is woefully inadequate, and Jeffrey Sachs, chair of the international advisory panel of India’s National Rural Health Mission, has suggested that the figure should be raised to around five percent of GDP.
In such a scenario the capacity of the government to intervene effectively when faced with a rapidly spreading virus like the A(H1N1) is severely limited. Experts believe that more than the precautions the government has taken - such as screening airport arrivals - India’s sub-tropical conditions may have put the brakes on the virus.
"It would have been best to let the epidemic run its natural course. Of course, extra precautions may need to be taken as winter approaches when the northern temperate areas of the country could become more vulnerable," Das Gupta said.
On Jun. 11, the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level for swine flu to ‘Phase 6,’ indicating that community level outbreaks were occurring in different parts of the world. Margaret Chan, Director General of the WHO, then admitted that it was not possible to contain or reverse the spread of the virus.
However, it was not until this week that authorities in India admitted that it was more important to contain the panic rather than the virus, which, in any case, has manifested itself as being not too different in symptoms and virulence from ordinary seasonal flu viruses.
"As the virus spreads it will slowly create immunity among people and the number of new cases will start to drop," R.K. Srivastava, India’s director general of health services, said Thursday.
But the government’s failings were exposed by a group of independent public health specialists at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health at the Jawaharlal Nehru University through a note, calling for "greater clarity in the management of and treatment of A(H1N1) so that the public is informed regarding the aetiology, treatment and management of swine flu."
"The hysteria created by the media and the knee-jerk reaction from the ministry of health and family welfare are not conducive to rational and well- informed management of the situation," said the note signed by Dr. Mohan Rao, Prof. Rama Baru, Dr. Rajib Dasgupta, Prof. Sanghmitra Acharya, Prof. K.R. Nayar, Prof. Ramila Bisht and Dr. Ritu Priya.
The JNU experts said that treatment should continue to be limited to designated public hospitals and that the government needs to set out guidelines regarding the stage at which presumptive cases, and not just laboratory confirmed cases, will be treated with specific antivirals.
Equally, they said, there was no need for the government to open up testing and treatment in the private sector, especially when the situation was ripe for unnecessary - and expensive - testing for swine flu and unnecessary over- diagnosis and treatment. "This will not only lead to resistance to the only drugs we have but widespread exploitation of people wrongly diagnosed to have swine flu," the experts said.
As for the government’s plans to seek partnerships with the private sector, India’s biggest private facility - the multi-billion dollar Apollo Hospital in the national capital - simply refused to obey a government directive for private hospitals to help out on the grounds that treating swine flu cases could put other patients at risk of cross-infections.
In a press release Apollo Hospital said: "We cannot put our patients, many of whom are immune-compromised, at risk by exposing them to the infections. We are therefore not in a position to provide facilities for H1N1 flu screening, sample collection and inpatient treatment in our campus for fear of cross- infection."
Source: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48102
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Indian property developers cater to the masses with low-cost housing
LAST month ten-year-old Azharuddin Ismail was woken in the middle of the night by the sound of bulldozers. As policemen beat him with a bamboo stick to shoo him and his family away, his home in Mumbai’s slums was swiftly demolished. Azhar, a celebrity since appearing in the film “Slumdog Millionaire”, has since been given a new home by the filmmakers. But other residents were not so fortunate.
India’s cities need at least 25m more homes, according to report from McKinsey, a consultancy, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce. In Mumbai, the commercial capital, more than 8m people now live in shantytowns, often paying substantial rent for the privilege. But buying a home of their own is way out of reach for most of them: a 70-square-metre flat in the centre of the city costs $500,000 or so.
Matheran Realty is one of several firms that think they have a solution: ultra-low-cost housing. In Karjat, 90km east of Mumbai, Matheran Realty is in the process of building 15,000 flats with prices starting at just 210,000 rupees ($4,500) for 19-square-metre units. Tata, the firm that makes the $2,500 “Nano” car, is building 1,300 basic units at Boisar, about 100km north of the city, and may add more. Priced at 390,000-670,000 rupees each, they are already oversubscribed. Other firms are planning similar developments elsewhere in India.
The cost is being kept low chiefly because the flats are being built outside big cities, where land is much cheaper. Owners are expected to commute. The units are also very small and spartan. The simplest consist of a single room with a sink in the corner and a toilet behind a partition. They are in buildings of no more than three storeys, so there is no need for expensive structural works. Instead of bricks, lightweight moulded concrete blocks are used for the walls. The concrete is often made with foam, fly-ash or other waste materials to make it lighter as well as cheaper. There are no lifts and just one staircase per block. All this means that the homes can be built very quickly and with unskilled labour.
The developers say the potential for very cheap housing in India is huge. Many of those living in slums today are employed as drivers, factory workers or tailors, with incomes of around 90,000 rupees a year—easily enough to afford a flat which costs 200,000-400,000 rupees. According to Ashish Karamchandani of Monitor Group, another consulting firm, India has 23m urban families with incomes of 60,000-130,000 rupees a year. Including rural areas, Tata Housing sees an even larger market of 180m households earning between 90,000 and 200,000 rupees.
Until very recently one of the biggest hurdles was finance. Banks were unwilling to lend money to people without credit histories or proof of permanent residence. But two government-owned banks—the National Housing Bank and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development—have agreed to provide funds to finance companies so that they can offer mortgages to such buyers. To reduce risk, buyers must put down at least a quarter of the purchase price and employers must confirm their income. Borrowers are then charged little more interest than those with an established credit history.
Lenders and developers are convinced that they have struck gold. Who would have guessed that the combination of subprime loans and a building boom would have become attractive again so soon?
Source: http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13837400
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
India’s cities need at least 25m more homes, according to report from McKinsey, a consultancy, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce. In Mumbai, the commercial capital, more than 8m people now live in shantytowns, often paying substantial rent for the privilege. But buying a home of their own is way out of reach for most of them: a 70-square-metre flat in the centre of the city costs $500,000 or so.
Matheran Realty is one of several firms that think they have a solution: ultra-low-cost housing. In Karjat, 90km east of Mumbai, Matheran Realty is in the process of building 15,000 flats with prices starting at just 210,000 rupees ($4,500) for 19-square-metre units. Tata, the firm that makes the $2,500 “Nano” car, is building 1,300 basic units at Boisar, about 100km north of the city, and may add more. Priced at 390,000-670,000 rupees each, they are already oversubscribed. Other firms are planning similar developments elsewhere in India.
The cost is being kept low chiefly because the flats are being built outside big cities, where land is much cheaper. Owners are expected to commute. The units are also very small and spartan. The simplest consist of a single room with a sink in the corner and a toilet behind a partition. They are in buildings of no more than three storeys, so there is no need for expensive structural works. Instead of bricks, lightweight moulded concrete blocks are used for the walls. The concrete is often made with foam, fly-ash or other waste materials to make it lighter as well as cheaper. There are no lifts and just one staircase per block. All this means that the homes can be built very quickly and with unskilled labour.
The developers say the potential for very cheap housing in India is huge. Many of those living in slums today are employed as drivers, factory workers or tailors, with incomes of around 90,000 rupees a year—easily enough to afford a flat which costs 200,000-400,000 rupees. According to Ashish Karamchandani of Monitor Group, another consulting firm, India has 23m urban families with incomes of 60,000-130,000 rupees a year. Including rural areas, Tata Housing sees an even larger market of 180m households earning between 90,000 and 200,000 rupees.
Until very recently one of the biggest hurdles was finance. Banks were unwilling to lend money to people without credit histories or proof of permanent residence. But two government-owned banks—the National Housing Bank and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development—have agreed to provide funds to finance companies so that they can offer mortgages to such buyers. To reduce risk, buyers must put down at least a quarter of the purchase price and employers must confirm their income. Borrowers are then charged little more interest than those with an established credit history.
Lenders and developers are convinced that they have struck gold. Who would have guessed that the combination of subprime loans and a building boom would have become attractive again so soon?
Source: http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13837400
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Now, fund-raising for charity goes mobile
Realising that raising money for charity will only get tougher in the present economic environment, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has decided to harness the ever-increasing mobile users in India. For Iskcon, this will help them sustain the inflow of donations for its mid-day meals programme.
Iskcon along with Atom Technologies has introduced a mobile interactive voice response system (IVRS) module that will enable individual donors to zip cash donations over the mobile phone, using their credit cards.
Technology will make fund-raising easier, asserts Shri Radha Krishna Das, MD, Iskcon Food Relief Foundation, who is keen to roll out the IVRS mode of payment to all 16 Iskcon centres across India. At present, the IVRS mode has been launched for Iskcon’s Mumbai centre.
Through the IVRS mode, Iskcon is targeting the Gen Y (a term applied to those born between 1981 and 1995), who are comfortable paying for downloads, movies and music electronically and most of whom have mobile phones.
Mobile payment solutions provider Atom Technologies’ director Dewang Neralla is confident that mobile-giving has the ability to match, or even outperform, online donations. He says, “Iskcon, which raised an estimated Rs 8 crore for its mid-day meal scheme through both online and offline channels, could well look to raise an equal amount from mobile donations.”
The charm of mobile giving is its reach. Nationwide, there are an estimated 129 million television households, including 73 million cable and more than 15 million direct-to-home (DTH) subscribers, according to a Ficci-KPMG report. Also, there are an estimated 50 million internet-connected households. By contrast, there are 390 million mobile subscribers (in March) across the country.
Neralla asserts, “India’s mobile population is a huge universe for charities, especially for the smaller players who struggle for donations.” He reckons that mobile donors may contribute smaller sums, averaging between Rs 100 and Rs 200, but the volumes are bound to be much larger than any other form of donations. While nonprofits relied on a smaller number of donors making large gifts in the past, the new paradigm is appealing to a vast number of smaller donors.
Atom Technologies has also joined hands with two other NGOs — GiveIndia & CPAA. GiveIndia will be adopting atom’s IVR-based payment option, whereas CPAA will be going in for a mobile-based payment solution where donors can donate via text messages. Nonprofits could also send targeted messages to their donor base to update them on the progress made with fund-raising or on cause objectives.
For Iskcon, the IVR mobile payment facility would help in reaching a wider and untapped audience who can choose to donate any amount as per their convenience. Iskcon’s Das articulates that an IVR-based system can help with the non-profit organisation’s communication with the donor by cutting through the media clutter.
Last year, American Red Cross managed to attract an estimated Rs 9.65 million in pledges for its disaster relief funds through mobile payments.
Another reason to cheer for mobile-giving is the falling minimum amount of donations from individual donors. “Contributors might be unwilling to pony up more after allocating funds to larger charities with more marketing muscle. That’s where the mobile can play a constructive role for smaller nonprofits,” concludes Narella.
Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/now-fund-raising-for-charity-goes-mobile/366453/
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Iskcon along with Atom Technologies has introduced a mobile interactive voice response system (IVRS) module that will enable individual donors to zip cash donations over the mobile phone, using their credit cards.
Technology will make fund-raising easier, asserts Shri Radha Krishna Das, MD, Iskcon Food Relief Foundation, who is keen to roll out the IVRS mode of payment to all 16 Iskcon centres across India. At present, the IVRS mode has been launched for Iskcon’s Mumbai centre.
Through the IVRS mode, Iskcon is targeting the Gen Y (a term applied to those born between 1981 and 1995), who are comfortable paying for downloads, movies and music electronically and most of whom have mobile phones.
Mobile payment solutions provider Atom Technologies’ director Dewang Neralla is confident that mobile-giving has the ability to match, or even outperform, online donations. He says, “Iskcon, which raised an estimated Rs 8 crore for its mid-day meal scheme through both online and offline channels, could well look to raise an equal amount from mobile donations.”
The charm of mobile giving is its reach. Nationwide, there are an estimated 129 million television households, including 73 million cable and more than 15 million direct-to-home (DTH) subscribers, according to a Ficci-KPMG report. Also, there are an estimated 50 million internet-connected households. By contrast, there are 390 million mobile subscribers (in March) across the country.
Neralla asserts, “India’s mobile population is a huge universe for charities, especially for the smaller players who struggle for donations.” He reckons that mobile donors may contribute smaller sums, averaging between Rs 100 and Rs 200, but the volumes are bound to be much larger than any other form of donations. While nonprofits relied on a smaller number of donors making large gifts in the past, the new paradigm is appealing to a vast number of smaller donors.
Atom Technologies has also joined hands with two other NGOs — GiveIndia & CPAA. GiveIndia will be adopting atom’s IVR-based payment option, whereas CPAA will be going in for a mobile-based payment solution where donors can donate via text messages. Nonprofits could also send targeted messages to their donor base to update them on the progress made with fund-raising or on cause objectives.
For Iskcon, the IVR mobile payment facility would help in reaching a wider and untapped audience who can choose to donate any amount as per their convenience. Iskcon’s Das articulates that an IVR-based system can help with the non-profit organisation’s communication with the donor by cutting through the media clutter.
Last year, American Red Cross managed to attract an estimated Rs 9.65 million in pledges for its disaster relief funds through mobile payments.
Another reason to cheer for mobile-giving is the falling minimum amount of donations from individual donors. “Contributors might be unwilling to pony up more after allocating funds to larger charities with more marketing muscle. That’s where the mobile can play a constructive role for smaller nonprofits,” concludes Narella.
Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/now-fund-raising-for-charity-goes-mobile/366453/
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
Indian NGO requires GENERAL MANAGER
POSITION TITLE: GENERAL MANAGER - WEST
LOCATION: Ahmedabad
REPORTING TO: CEO
OVERVIEW:
The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) is a non-denominational, non-political, non-government organization. The Aga Khan Development Network’s rural development efforts started in the early 1980s when the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) was established in Gujarat. Rural development programmes seek to contribute to rural poverty reduction through community involvement and empowerment that leads to the efficient management and improved productivity of natural resources. Today, over 100,000 beneficiaries across 900 villages in three states (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar) have organised themselves into more than 4000 village-level institutions.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Aga Khan Rural Support Program is looking to hire their General Manager - West. The key responsibilities in this role will be as follows:
• Provide programmatic and institutional leadership to the present livelihood enhancement programme in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
• Liaise with donors and senior government officers, and interact with field staff and community members.
• Budget management and revenue generation.
• Actively engage in developing systems and indicators to partially withdraw from existing areas of work and move towards sectors which engage new information technology processes and systems.
• Capacity building of the team and prepare older team members towards new challenges and new geographical areas.
• Village distribution and setting up of processes for natural resources management.
• Integration of all programmes and projects of AKRSP.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS SPECIFICATIONS:
Must Haves:
• Post graduation in Rural Management/ Natural Resource Management / Social Sciences from a reputed national level institute.
• Minimum 8 years of experience out of which minimum 4 years in a senior management or leadership position.
• Strong program implementation and management skills including strategic planning and work plan development with a strong focus on maintaining quality across project milestones.
• Confident communicator, with the ability to dialogue on complex issues with senior team members.
• Efficient at multitasking with field orientation.
• Skilled at interacting and developing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Willing to travel and maintain a very flexible working pattern.
• Strong commitment to ongoing personal development.
• Secular orientation and non-discriminating on any basis.
Preferable:
• Proficiency in English with a working knowledge of Gujarati/ Hindi.
COMPENSATION DETAILS: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Aga Khan Rural Support Program for this search. Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a cover note to akrspgmw@gmail.com, or Contact us at: +91 22 6660 3558/6660 3559.
Only short listed candidates would be contacted. Last date for receiving applications is 28th August 2009.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
LOCATION: Ahmedabad
REPORTING TO: CEO
OVERVIEW:
The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) is a non-denominational, non-political, non-government organization. The Aga Khan Development Network’s rural development efforts started in the early 1980s when the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) was established in Gujarat. Rural development programmes seek to contribute to rural poverty reduction through community involvement and empowerment that leads to the efficient management and improved productivity of natural resources. Today, over 100,000 beneficiaries across 900 villages in three states (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar) have organised themselves into more than 4000 village-level institutions.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Aga Khan Rural Support Program is looking to hire their General Manager - West. The key responsibilities in this role will be as follows:
• Provide programmatic and institutional leadership to the present livelihood enhancement programme in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
• Liaise with donors and senior government officers, and interact with field staff and community members.
• Budget management and revenue generation.
• Actively engage in developing systems and indicators to partially withdraw from existing areas of work and move towards sectors which engage new information technology processes and systems.
• Capacity building of the team and prepare older team members towards new challenges and new geographical areas.
• Village distribution and setting up of processes for natural resources management.
• Integration of all programmes and projects of AKRSP.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS SPECIFICATIONS:
Must Haves:
• Post graduation in Rural Management/ Natural Resource Management / Social Sciences from a reputed national level institute.
• Minimum 8 years of experience out of which minimum 4 years in a senior management or leadership position.
• Strong program implementation and management skills including strategic planning and work plan development with a strong focus on maintaining quality across project milestones.
• Confident communicator, with the ability to dialogue on complex issues with senior team members.
• Efficient at multitasking with field orientation.
• Skilled at interacting and developing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Willing to travel and maintain a very flexible working pattern.
• Strong commitment to ongoing personal development.
• Secular orientation and non-discriminating on any basis.
Preferable:
• Proficiency in English with a working knowledge of Gujarati/ Hindi.
COMPENSATION DETAILS: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Third Sector Partners, a leading CxO and board search firm in the Not for Profit sector has been retained by Aga Khan Rural Support Program for this search. Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a cover note to akrspgmw@gmail.com, or Contact us at: +91 22 6660 3558/6660 3559.
Only short listed candidates would be contacted. Last date for receiving applications is 28th August 2009.
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
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