Corporate பிச்சைகாரர்கள்

Corporate beggars.

I couldn't think a better name than this for this post. If it hurts please stop reading.

Because I am going to talk about the present, booming sector in India. Especially in metros. Its little sensitive too.

Every month I get a new caller saying "Sir, I am calling from <ABC> charity organisation". 

You know how many charity organisations where there before 5 years? Even I dono how much :).  But I am sure, It has increased.

Could I think this is also a result of modernisation? Or part of grooming economy? or more helping minds!!?

What ever! But when we deep dive we get more stuffs.

It all started 3 years back, when I was contributing for such an organisation.

Usually, after signing the cheque We are least bothered about what happens behind. At-least I did that in my case. Only a small amount goes away from your bank account monthly, which doesn't even prick you. After an year, when the same organisation came back to renew the ECS. Everything came to my mind. 

When I began the contribution, the tele-caller assured me many thing like quarterly tax certificate, the details of the expenditure happens from the money donated, details of child benefited, services offered etc would reach my inbox regularly. Nothing happened. Now they are calling for a renewal. 

My other side brain wanted to play now. I asked them I need to see all the details until then 'I can't continue'. {BTW, its one of top charity organisation} They said, they could only arrange for a tax exempt certificate. I said, 'OK let me see that'. 

I received it after a month (I guess, or even more. I didn't produce it for the income tax). I thought I was testing the reliability of that organisation[I may be wrong also]

Then something came to my mind, that lets do the donation stuff in personal. Not through any organisation. So when I received the call next time, I rejected. Then the big bang happened[I believe it is]

I started to receive calls from other organisations. May be that company had sold my number as a potential customer [not a donor]

I didn't realise it, until this year early. When I was chewing my old thoughts something sparked. 'Are they really helping the needy?' They may, but they have to feed on these donations. 

I mean, they are not 'non-profit' organisations. The money which I think it goes to some one, is taken by in-between brokers. They have to pay their staffs, rent for their office, operation cost etc. Here comes the nasty part of it. There are few fake companies too in the pool. 

What has happened, in Object Orientation we call it has 'inversion principle'. A beggar comes to you which is antique, Now these organisations collect from individuals and distribute to needy. Now the control is with them. They can even choose not to give to someone. 

I know I am going little crude here, but possibilities are there. Our government has no time to look at them. Neither the organisations nor the needy persons. Though they(charity orgs) are on a noble cause I think there is no monitory body to regulate and keep an eye on them. Because small drop makes ocean.

2000 bucks from 1000 individuals an year is quite a considerable amount of money in a city. 

There is also another side of this. I see an organisation in Madurai which gives food for all beggars in the city. They wander in an Omni van with their organisation's label on it. The place where I saw usually one beggar on the road who collects the food packet, month later there were three.

Now this also makes me think, 'are they helping the society?' I really don't know. 

There is still confusion in my mind. Politicians don't have interest in them, because they don't vote. We cant blame the voluntary organisations who are really caring them. What is the result????

Well, this is not just a topic which has a judgement. All I would do is to contribute personally whenever possible[no intermediates] All it requires is to break out of our lazy shell.

Next time when you go for a treat[or a pub ;)] and pay 5k - 6k for few people. The same can feast a 20 kids in a orphanage near by you. This idea is not new, it pretty old and many would be doing this too. But if you didn't I am sure you have enough to share with them....

PS: This post is not meant to hurt anybody, and not to humiliate any one. I was just thinking loud.