We came across a very interesting article in the Times of India on Jan 23, 2012 which we have reproduced below. So many times we hear about some rich industrialist or professional giving away crores of rupees or we read a lot about how little we give as a nation. We found this to be a powerful example of giving even if it was giving amongst the community. Giving indeed starts with feeling of "family" and the family always extends gradually- from self to direct, then relatives, then "kinsmen" and then state & eventually nation. The idea that a donor will give to anyone without any relationship is difficult and rarely practised except in Europe. For example, even today Americans donate >90% of their money within the country (these numbers may have changed with the large efforts of Bill & Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet), as compared to Europe which donates >70% overseas into Africa.
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Rural hundis bankroll emigration dream
When young people in Mehsana's Sarsav village dream of pursuing a post-graduate degree in the US, their parents don't have to put at stake their life's savings or approach a bank for an exorbitant loan. Help is available at the local Shiv temple, through which the entire Diaspora of Sarsav residents in the US takes care of the funding. This unique community network supporting migration has caught the eye of researchers who say it is rare to find such systems outside Gujarat. They have found a similar system in Nandasan, another village of Mehsana where each family living abroad makes a tiny donation - a 'chandlo' - to fund migration of other villagers.
Dr Neerja Arun, the director of Gujarat University's study abroad programme, said: "We are documenting this modern-day hundi system, which supports young graduates from rural areas."
Arun says when someone decides to go abroad, the entire village donates money to the temple. The temple in turn informs NRGs from the village who provide the same amount to an aspiring migrant in dollars when he arrives in the US. The temple then refunds the NRGs.
Among the migrants is Gopal Ramprasad, who gathered nearly Rs 12 lakh from villagers which was entrusted to the temple authorities. When he reached the US to study for a professional course he was given the same amount by NRGs living there.
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So tell us what you think about this form of giving. Should giving be done irrespective of who the beneficiary is? How do you give? Do you give more to people within your family, community? Do you prefer giving to your maid, driver or watchmen? Or do you prefer just giving to anyone as long as there is a beneficiary?
Source: http://timesofindia.
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Rural hundis bankroll emigration dream
When young people in Mehsana's Sarsav village dream of pursuing a post-graduate degree in the US, their parents don't have to put at stake their life's savings or approach a bank for an exorbitant loan. Help is available at the local Shiv temple, through which the entire Diaspora of Sarsav residents in the US takes care of the funding. This unique community network supporting migration has caught the eye of researchers who say it is rare to find such systems outside Gujarat. They have found a similar system in Nandasan, another village of Mehsana where each family living abroad makes a tiny donation - a 'chandlo' - to fund migration of other villagers. Dr Neerja Arun, the director of Gujarat University's study abroad programme, said: "We are documenting this modern-day hundi system, which supports young graduates from rural areas."
Arun says when someone decides to go abroad, the entire village donates money to the temple. The temple in turn informs NRGs from the village who provide the same amount to an aspiring migrant in dollars when he arrives in the US. The temple then refunds the NRGs.
Among the migrants is Gopal Ramprasad, who gathered nearly Rs 12 lakh from villagers which was entrusted to the temple authorities. When he reached the US to study for a professional course he was given the same amount by NRGs living there.
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So tell us what you think about this form of giving. Should giving be done irrespective of who the beneficiary is? How do you give? Do you give more to people within your family, community? Do you prefer giving to your maid, driver or watchmen? Or do you prefer just giving to anyone as long as there is a beneficiary?
Source: http://timesofindia.
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