An altruistic network of NRIs helps poor children through the Net

Anand, 36, the chief technology officer at Liqwid Krystal, a software company in Bangalore, has led by example in the endeavour. Back home after a long stint with Oracle Software, US, he addressed technical seminars at companies like Infosys Technologies Ltd and HP, and turned the earnings over to this foundation. His second fund-raising strategy was to earmark every rupee generated by his book, Things That Make Me Go Hmm, for the foundation. Now, he spends a couple of hours twice a month, buying books and toys for these children.

The foundation, explains Anand, is the upshot of an insight into problems of impecunious and disabled children. Says he: "We realised we had an opportunity and because of the boom in the computer industry we are quite comfortable. We thought the others lack an opportunity (as in education) to move ahead. They need support for basic education and healthcare. My role is to get people to sponsor children sheltered by three ngos (Ashraya, Prakruti and Jeevodaya). I don’t want money from people I don’t know. I want to know why somebody is keen to help."

A unique feature of this organisation is that it is ‘virtual’, the Net being the principal channel of communication and with expenditure at zero for its operations. Only e-mails make their way across the world (some members live as far away as Australia and Singapore), seeking sponsorship for such kids on monthly, quarterly or yearly basis to support their education and other necessities. Besides, it seeks aid in terms of toys, clothes and medicine for the network. From a couple of children when the foundation took off, the number today has exceeded 600, at least 60 of them covered full-time.

The foundation works through Ashraya, Prakruti and Jeevodaya to reach the funds to these children. At Ashraya, a home for destitute children and people with physical and mental disabilities, six children have been sponsored for primary education and healthcare. In addition, as Leela Deshpande, founder trustee of Ashraya, says: "Anand has helped us find people to fund our expansion (two floors have been added to the building). Then, some offered to meet the expenses of some kids. Now, we run three schools in slums that has 160 kids. Anand has sent us toys and books for these schools." It has also supported an experiment of Prakruti to train youth in Kargil so that schools in the region have adequate number of teachers. Says Anand: "We learnt that teachers don’t go to school in this sector because they lack sufficient number of students. We’ve sponsored a team to involve young men and women and train them in teaching."

At Karkala, a town in coastal Karnataka, 90 students at the Mahatma Gandhi Residential School, an institution that helps school dropouts to continue education and pass matriculation, are recipients of funds mobilised through the internet. These kids—30 each in class eight, nine and ten—belong to families living in penury in this region. Last year, the school registered 100 per cent results at state matriculation examinations.

On odd occasions, Anand, who has also enlisted an army of volunteers from infotech companies in Bangalore, organises carnivals for children from other ngos. Last Christmas, he had 1,500 children over for games and fun. Every child was given a Santa Claus gift. Though the foundation has expanded in two years, Anand does not want to embark on grandiose plans. Says he: "We want to manage two or three projects at a time, but the emphasis will always be on kids and education." Anand can be contacted at: anand@liqwidkrystal.com or 080- 5091790.