What's Your Karmathon?

We hope you are running for a cause in the Mumbai Marathon on January 18. Even if you're not, Vinay Somani of Karmayog.org, shows you how to achieve your personal marathon

PEOPLE have been expressing concern after the Mumbai terror attacks, and several of these are focused on issues of better governance. To get an idea of how government works, and to understand the ground realities of various issues that affect society, it would be useful and important to get involved with NGOs.u00a0

Most people have unrealistic and high expectations of NGOs. This perception also hinders people from helping out and supporting NGOs in small ways, because they wrongly assume that such small contributions do not make a difference.

It is important for all of us to realise that NGOs are not powerful organisations. They are struggling, daily witnessing the brutal reality faced by their beneficiaries and trying their best to help them. Here's where to individually contribute our time, intellect, services, space and money.

Experiences with NGOs would give rise to a greater clarity about what exactly to focus on, and the suggestions and action steps that emerge through this process would be more practical and likely to generate results.

A to Z of social causes

Adoption is critical to ensure that every child has the love and support of family life.
Indian Association for Promotion of Adoption and Child Welfare undertakes programmes in adoption, foster family care, family support programme and educational assistance for underprivileged children and a child guidance centre.
https://www.iapacw.org/

Blood Donation is important as this simple act can prevent people from dying needlessly.
Think Foundation helps organise voluntary blood donation drives and create awareness about thalassaemia and platelet donation.
vinay@thinkfoundation.org

Corruption has to be eliminated for India to develop as a First World nation, and this can be done easily through computerising procedures and decision making.
Transparency International, India, promotes transparent and ethical practices in government by raising awareness among people, planning policies for better delivery of public services, and partnering with civil society groups.
https://www.transparencyindia.org/

Disaster Management through community preparedness and involvement is necessary for us to cope with the effects of natural and man-made disasters.
Saritsa Foundation makes people, especially disabled school children, aware of the risks and how to respond when caught in disasters such as fire, floods, earthquakes.
https://www.saritsafoundation.in/

Environment protection is the most serious concern facing the world today, as the effects of global warming and climate change are both being felt and understood.
Centre for Environmental Research and Education educates students, teachers and corporates about global warming and shows them through books and practical workshops, how to bring about easy changes so as to reduce environmental damage.
https://www.cere-india.org/

Fair Trade is essential to reduce inequity in the world.
International Resources for Fairer Trade is engaged actively in supporting producers, raising awareness and
in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of trade, through programmes
like community business, ethical business, sustainable agriculture, socially responsible business, and domestic fair trade promotion
https://www.irft.org/

Gandhian Values are extremely relevant in today's time of violence and communal strife.
Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal is a Gandhian Trust having noted Gandhians amongst its midst and it undertakes various constructive programmes, seminars, workshops, meetings, youth camps, etc.
https://www.mkgandhi.org/

Hearing-Challenged is a disability for which there are various solutions in daily and professional living that enable the hearing-challenged to share the same quality of life that we do.
Astitva School educates, trains and rehabilitates hearing-impaired and mentally-challenged children through modern methods, using its 25,000 sq ft space equipped with necessary amenities. These students have regularly won awards in the annual Special Olympics and in state level sports.
https://www.astitva/ school.com

Innovation changes the course of history and improves the lives of millions of people.u00a0
Ashoka u00e2u0080u0093 Innovators for the Public, financially supports social entrepreneurs so that they can and act more effectively as changemakers.
https://www.ashoka.org/

Justice delivered fairly and quickly can transform lives.
Janhit Manch, through its Forum For Fast Justice, is working on a campaign to reduce the 3.5 crore pending cases in Indian courts.
https://www.janhitmanch.org/

Knowledge and its application determines social progress.
Tata Insititute for Social Sciences, since 1936, offers degree and diploma courses in social sciences, and undertakes social research and dissemination of knowledge, training and field action projects.
https://www.tiss.edu/

Legal Rights need to be ensured to all citizens to deliver the principles guaranteed in our Constitution.
Lawyers Collective, established in 1981, helps citizens in human rights advocacy, legal aid and litigation.
https://www.lawyerscollective.org/

Mental Trauma not only makes one's life miserable, but can also drive one to suicide.
Aasra is a crisis intervention centre for the lonely, distressed and suicidal since 1960.
https://www.aasra.info/

Noise is amongst the most pervasive pollutants today.
Awaaz Foundation guides citizens on how to complain against and control dangerous levels of noise in their area.
https://www.awaaz.org/

Orphanages provide the care, education and nourishment that children need till they are adopted.
Our Children is an NGO that has worked for 38 years with Children's Homes and Orphanages to improve the lives of the children there.
https://www.ourchildrenindia.org/

Poverty is almost impossible to overcome on one's own.
Apnalaya, founded in 1972, helps children and adults living in slums towards a better life, through programmes such as balwadis, cru00c3u00a8ches, study classes, sponsorship, health camps, computer education, etc.
https://www.apnalaya.org/

Quotas and reservation policies end up punishing the meritorious.
Youth for Equality works for equal rights for all, and special privileges for none, and works towards ensuring education for all with a special emphasis on women and children.
https://www.youthforequality.com/

Right to Information is the only tool that brings democracy directly into the hands of every citizen.
Bombay Chartered Accountants Society runs very effective RTI guidance clinics every Saturday, besides publishing newsletters on various aspects of RTI.
https://www.bcasonline.org/

Street Children are an unfortunate reality because of poverty, broken families and cruelty.
Saathi is a 10-year-old NGO that works youth living on the streets, runaways or abandoned adolescent girls.
https://www.saathi.org/

Trees provide shade, counter pollution and bring nature into our everyday lives.
Hariyali organises tree plantation drives throughout the year and has planted and tended to thousands of trees.
https://www.hariyalithane.com/

Urban development has so many inter-connected issues that solutions are not easy for government, and hence all stakeholders need to get involved.
Yuvak Pratishthan organises camps of all types in many slums in Mumbai including for health, sanitation, environment, sports and cultural activities. It also runs certificate courses in Slum Studies.
https://www.ypmumbai.com/

Voting is essential to strengthen and improve democracy so as to preserve our individual freedoms.
Association for Democratic Reforms, founded by professors from IIM-A and NID, works with government and citizens towards electoral reforms and political process reforms.
https://www.adrindia.org/

Women are the cornerstone of the family and for the development of children, and thus of society.
Seva Sadan Society, a 100-year-old NGO, provides shelter, education, vocational training, and employment opportunities to make girls and women self-sufficient.
https://www.sevasadan.org/

Ex-Servicemen and their families need our support and respect as they ensure us our freedoms.
Navy Wives Welfare Association works for the rehabilitation of widows and families of deceased naval personnel.
https://www.nwwa-west.org/

Youth are the only agents of societal change that we can pin our hopes on.
Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action works with street children, women, youth, pavement and slum dwellers on issues of livelihood, housing, food, security, education, health, women's issues, civic amenities, human rights, environment and governance.
https://www.yuvaindia.org/

Zoos educate and sensitise us to the wonders and value of nature.
Plants and Animals Welfare Society is a volunteer run body that works tirelessly to help animals and keeps tabs on the state of the animals in the Byculla Zoo.
https://www.pawsasia.org/

Do visit not only the websites, but also the workplaces of these NGOs, and see how you can help them improve and increase their effectiveness and reach.

Life happens through actions and not words. Compiled by https://www.karmayog.org/ an online listing of 2000+ volunteers and 16,000+ NGOs