Kalam is a gentleman and 100% human. Five years as the President of India has not changed him a bit.
Incidentally I am going to ask one question. It might be out of the way, but this is persisting in my mind for a long time.
Is there any authorized agency in India to ensure that the money collected by various NGOs in the form of donations from public and Government are spent judiciously and for the purpose for which they are collected. I am not casting doubt on any particular NGO, but is it not necessary that their accounts are audited and published in prominent newspapers every year?
RE:Kalam's donation
by Milton Lawrence DSilva on Aug 24, 2007 11:05 AM Permalink
Your Q is very valid and relevant: we in India have an obsession with figures and the number of NGOs is mindboggling. While there are many doing good work, a large number of these NGOs are either corrupt or fronts for nefarious activities. Please Google and do your own search, e.g., this interesting site:http://www.interventions.org/fraising.html
Personally, I follow the practice of donating either through funds launched by main newspapers/magazines or personally to deserving individuals.
RE:Kalam's donation
by mohd khan on Aug 24, 2007 11:19 AM Permalink
Milton,
The most corrupt are the newspaper and magazine walas...go to any newspaper office and you will not be able to breath due to cigerrette smoke...go to press club and one thing comes to mind...what is journalism all about...drinking drinking drinking and smoking and nothing else...and all that is immoral is normal in media houses
RE:Kalam's donation
by Milton Lawrence DSilva on Aug 24, 2007 11:22 AM Permalink
You are largely correct about the staff, but organisations are different, not to be confused...Funds run but news papers like Times of India, The Indian Express and Care Today of India Today group are not known to indulge in any wring doing as per my knowledge
RE:Kalam's donation
by Junnedkhan on Aug 24, 2007 11:14 AM Permalink
Dear Rajasekaran,
All of us pay taxes to the government. In what manner our taxes are utilized we all know. The level of corruption in the government is not hidden from anyone. Now about NGOs. All Indians are free to form an NGO (which is like a joint stock company of 7 or more partners and is entirely a private affair). It is also a matter of personal priority that these associate members form an NGO or a barber shop or a newspaper. Now if they open a barber shop or a newspaper they can make profits and noone can stop them from becoming rich. At the same time, if they form an NGO (a society to be specific) then bound by the Societieys Registration Act (which was fomulated 147 years ago by the colonizers british) their joint establishment cannot make any profits for personal gains. An NGO can still publish a newspaper, open a barber shop or a beauti parlour or a factory, but no single penny can be taken by any of the associate members as profit. In simple terms, all the profits made by an NGO have to be deposited in the NGO accounts only and invested for NGO profit only towards the written social objectives. Now it is entirely upon the assoiciate members to use the money and resources for the intended objectives, in majority of cases it happnes too. But many a times when the NGO heads use NGO resources people get wrong signals. When Tata and Ambani fly in the company copters no one points a fingure at them but when an NGO head uses the organisatio Car, eyebrows are raised
