September 2018 | 12 Pages | for Free Circulation Only |

PUBLISHED BY: P.N.SUBRAMANIAN on behalf of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani, COVER STORY 391/1, Venkatachalapathi Nagar, Alapakkam, Chennai - 600 116 and printed by him at FOR THE LOVE OF WORDS Express Press, Express Gardens, No.29, About Katha, an NGO based in New Delhi, that Second Main Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, brings children living in poverty into reading and Chennai - 600 058. Phone : 044-42805365 quality education Editor : Marie Banu 6 Alumni Talk Profile Chit Chat

Promising a good beginning Freedom In-Step With Progress “I wake up every day feeling alive to my responsibilities.” Satyadev’s efforts to revive About Freedom For You interest in vedic mathematics Foundation, an organisation An exclusive interview with 3 and Abacus in pre-school 9 based in Navi Mumbai 12 Mr M. Mahadeven education Focus 2 Conversations Today • September 2018 Buy your fancy stuff FROM THE from an Indian slum EDITOR One woman is helping to transform Asia’s biggest slum into a global online market place. Dear Reader,

“If you can read this, thank a teacher.” – Harry Truman

All those who have been a part of any learning or training process or have been through the education system are aware of the significance of teachers. Teachers are like lamps that spread knowledge, awareness, and help channel the innate intelligence of students into something truly fulfilling and enriching. Teachers not only play a crucial role in imparting knowledge, but also help to inculcate compassion, empathy, and shape the perceptions of learners. Our parents are the first teachers in our lives and impart the most important values of life since the day we are born, for learning remains a lifelong process. However, once we join school, the role of a teacher becomes very important, as we look up to them for knowledge, guidance, and encouragement. The hard-work and efforts that teachers put in building the future citizens of the nation should always be appreciated and applauded. It takes a big heart to shape little minds, and celebrating Teachers’ Day is just a way of thanking and expressing our gratitude to them. In India, 5th of September is celebrated as Teachers’ Day - the birthday of a great teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who was a staunch believer of education, a well-known diplomat, scholar, and former President of India. This day is one of the most special days in a student’s as well as a teacher’s life. Our parents will always remain to be as our first and last teachers, but the Ma’am, if I may ask, what business have you in together, Dharavi has a high concentration of contribution of our teachers in our lives is “Dharavi?” Nayeem enquired. artisans and craftsmen. also invaluable which we must recognize The driver was surprised, yet careful to tame his These are hardworking people. And though they and cherish all our lives. They are curiosity with a measure of politeness. “Dharavi is earn little, they seemed quite content and happy responsible to a great extent for where we slum area, you know? Many poor people. Not safe.” to me. are today, and therefore let us show our I’d heard much about this infamous “largest slum respect and gratitude to them. in Asia” in the heart of Mumbai, India, and wanted Making a difference to see it for myself. So how does an online business like – Marie Banu Besides, Nayeem had also pointed out that DharaviMarket.com make any difference to them, I the finest leather bags and wallets, including the wondered. branded stuff, were made right here in the slum. What do they do with the extra money they earn As I walked around the maze of narrow from online sales – the money that doesn’t go to a alleyways in between makeshift shelters, I was wholesaler or traditional retailer? greeted by friendly nods from shopkeepers One of the artisans, Abbas, had a simple and artisans, as well as children with oversized response: “Instead of working every day, they now backpacks running around shouting “Hi!” as they allow themselves to take a day off every now and trailed behind me. again.Now with this additional income, we can take The place was full of life and colour, and I our families out to enjoy.” wanted to take in everything. I like the idea that my buying of a wallet or bag could contribute to a parent taking some time off Craftsmen from a 15-hour-a-day, 7-day work week, to spend it EDITORIAL Sombodhi, my contact, told me that Dharavi with his children. is home to many migrants – some estimate that —A story by Our Better World – the Latha Suresh one million people live here – who’ve come from digital storytelling initiative of the Singapore surrounding rural areas hoping to find better work International Foundation Marie Banu opportunities. (www.ourbetterworld.org) Along with a hotchpotch of cultures coming

Design: Blink Foundation 3 Alumni Talk Conversations Today • September 2018 Promising a good beginning

Arietis is a for profit venture that intends to revive interest in vedic mathematics and Abacus.

ducation is a very personal journey Efor every child. Its reception is determined by not only methods and children’s individual capacities, but also by other factors like activity aids, family situations, tuitions, etc. Anything a child “I was inquisitive. I receives outside his or her classroom to support this journey has a very strong saw the impact of pre positive influence on the outcomes. “I do not want to accept affordability as the school education on driving force in this sector. The domain of preschool education is largely driven by private players, making it out of reach children’s cognitive for the underprivileged kids. I want this to change,” says Mr A Satyadev, founder development. It of Aalamuri Foundation, a charitable trust based in Hyderabad. promised a very Coming from an industrial background, Satyadev had no knowledge of the development sector. engaging beginning to He witnessed the changes liberalisation brought about in the industries in his children’s education early twenties. On learning the dynamics between big corporations and small, experience.” regional companies, he realised the opportunity to further study the flow of work and processes in different industries. “It is more important for small pre schools and schools run by with staff and senior batch mates, he companies and enterprises different managements. Soon, his feels, helped him understand how to prepare themselves for tenure as the Director of a play resourceful he was with his experience such changes. They must be school - IRIS Florets in Kondapur from the industry and the enthusiasm in open to it, otherwise, they and partner at Virinchi Vidya pre school education. He soon worked will lose out even before Mandir - an initiative for on a model to reach out to under upgrading themselves,” innovative pre schooling for under privileged children. warns Satyadev, recalling privileged children gave him new Satyadev came up with the thought of how industrial automation insights. “I was inquisitive. I saw utilising physical and human resources became an urgent need, then. the impact of pre school education within orphanages. As children went to With experience, he became on children’s cognitive school during the daytime, he wanted to aware of the dangers of one- development. It promised a very use the space to provide pre school person driven organisations, engaging beginning to children’s education for kids from the orphanage both in the profit and non profit education experience. But its and neighbourhood. According to him, sector. While he gained inaccessibility to a majority of pre school education not only influenced expertise in industrial children for different reasons cognitive, social development, but also automation, channel disturbed me. Why should ensured that children were motivated management and concept selling affordability and accessibility keep enough to continue their education. It over the last twenty eight years, children away from pre school lays a strong foundation for a child’s he became more conscious of the education?,” asks Satyadev. character and personality. He also importance of systems and processes, He founded the Aalamuri Founation intended to provide free classes on and their values in both the sectors. “At The couple had thought of along with his wife in 2013, as a family Abacus and vedic mathematics for one point when I felt I was ready to building a vedic education trust that can enable simple social interested children. “I believe my model aspire higher, I decided to work initiatives. The foundation provided addresses both accessibility and independently. I started with a small centre but lessons from scholarships and free abacus training for affordability in the areas we work in. We battery industry. However, market underprivileged children. The couple have started the programme in three fluctuations led to an upsurge in the another organisation that had thought of building a vedic orphanages and are delighted to see the price of lead and I shifted focus to education centre but lessons from interest in the children. We may be distribution of batteries across India. worked on low cost pre another organisation that worked on low testing the waters now but we feel The experience gave me the confidence schooling encouraged them cost pre schooling encouraged them to reassured by the fact that education to do consultancies for other aspiring do a thorough research on pre schooling never dies. Therefore, there is always entrepreneurs,” he says. to do a thorough research on for underprivileged children. During the room for innovation and improvement,” Satyadev also co-founded the Arietis course of usual work, Satyadev got to insists Satyadev. Inc – an abacus company, with his wife pre schooling for know about CSIM and its course on —Shanmuga Priya.T Mrs Sree Parimala Alamuri. Arietis is a underprivileged children. Social Entrepreneurship. He believes for-profit venture that intends to revive that his association with CSIM helped interest in vedic mathematics and him organise his thoughts and aspire Abacus. This initiative exposed him to higher. The sessions and interactions

Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM) is a unit of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani. Please visit www.csim.in for more information. Spot Light 4 Conversations Today • September 2018 Leader & Leadership Matters… 9. Acceptance : Blossoming with freedom

“I went with an intention to bring her with me. I tried all that I could but she refused to come. After some days, I went just to be with her. When I left she followed me.” - (Pg 52, Inner realities, JM Sampath, Insight Publishers, 2003)

cceptance is closely linked to the the freedom to specify I will come at 10. as a failure on their part. Actually what they Aability to give freedom and allow the And that gave me a lot of space to grow, to fail to understand is that there is no exam in relationship to blossom. While we find it make choices and also be accountable. This parenting. Certain things you get right the easy to ask someone to give freedom to us, upbringing made me democratic in my first time, certain things you learn by it seems tough when we have to give interactions with people. I think acceptance observation, by recalling your own personal freedom to others to be who they are. is to know all of us are capable of making experiences. Children have to make Acceptance, as an attribute in relationship choices and stop interfering to keep telling mistakes and have to be naughty. They are is also about living with least expectations others what is right or wrong. Initially, I not to be sitting in one corner. At school, and simultaneously being aware that used to speak my mind and walk away. I there are children who constantly keep expectation is a limitation on any was once sick and bed ridden for nearly 6 looking to us for an approval and they need relationship. weeks and totally dependent on my 80+ to be told there is no need for approval all Meaning of Walking into a green building with a year grand mom even to turn from side to the time. You can make mistakes and learn. welcoming homely and earthy atmosphere side. I did a lot of reflection and realized I Only thing is I say is do not to make the Acceptance: The is The TVS Academy. When we walk into need to change the way I act and the way I same mistake every time. Learn from every the Principal’s room, we are greeted with a respond. Now unless people ask me for my mistake.” Leader allows wide smile by Smt Srividya Mouli. She is point of view I don’t interfere; because it is As an afterthought she adds, “My son others to be an affable, cheerful, approachable lady. not necessary. People know what they want asked me in 8th grade, will you be Fondly called Vidyakka, she is a MA in to do. Nobody is a perfect human being and disappointed if I don’t do science. I said themselves, and (s) English Literature with B.Ed. and nearly 3 let us acknowledge the difference in the categorically, I’m ok with any choice that decades of teaching experience. Vidyakka way of every person’s thinking; it may not you make in terms of your career. I have no he accepts people has many awards to her credit such as, The be the way I think. But that way of thinking problem. Be clear what you want to do and President’s Award for Girl Guides; The also has a validity“. give it your best shot. He would at every as they are. (LOI, Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award; The stage eliminate saying I know what I don’t www.discoverself. Dronacharya Award for Excellence in Vidyakka, in the many roles that you want to do, but ‘m still not clear what I want Teaching and The award for best CBSE play in school, community and home, is to do. I said, that’s absolutely fine. It’s a com ). The Senior Secondary School Principal. She is there a different orientation of matter of choice. Now, he is in the best also an avid Trekker and Mountaineer; A Acceptance as an attribute? space in life that he wanted to be in.” dictionary theatre enthusiast and a keen photographer. meaning of If we interact with her, what strikes first is Vidyakka quotes Shri J Krishnamurthy, Tell me, as a Leader in organizational the ease and acceptance with which any “The flowering of goodness is possible only context, how do you balance Acceptance is discussion flows, bringing exploration and in freedom and in the choiceless awareness Instructions, expectations and collaboration as an integral part to every of our daily existence and activity. It is the Acceptance? tending to regard experience. To understand and discuss total unfolding and cultivation of our Acceptance as a leadership attribute, there minds, hearts and our physical well-being. “There are certain non-negotiables in any different types of can’t be a better person than Vidyakka. It is living in complete harmony in which organization. I tell them what is acceptable people and ways of there is clear, objective, non-personal and what is not, with regard to the values of Vidyakka, according to you what does perception unburdened by any kind of the school. Say for instance in a life with tolerance the attribute ‘Acceptance’ mean to you? conditioning. It is the release of our total performance based discussion between At what age did you become aware of this energy and its total freedom.” (http://www. parent and child the diktat to the child is, and acceptance. attribute in life? journal.kfionline.org) ‘you have to get more than 95% in exams The synonyms are She adds that this will require the creation next time and I don’t know how you’ll do it of right kind of environment that will allow but you have got to do it.’ This will be acknowledgement, this goodness to flower. She says, “In some interpreted by the child as by hook or crook people the flowering happens early, in some get the mark. When these kind of messages approval, assent, a little later; some late and also they don’t are being given, I definitely intervene. flower at the same rate. The best way is to Sometimes there are unrealistic consent and so on. look at it as describing a lotus. A lotus is expectations dumped on the child. A pole The antonyms are multi-layered and it takes time for the lotus vault in scores is not possible for the child. to flower and each petal has its own kind of When teachers or parents don’t see gradual denial, dynamics by which it opens out. Like this, progression as good enough, I do intervene each child and each individual requires a and share my perspective to correct their disagreement, different space. We want people to be expectations. Actually no body wants to do opposition, something that we think they should be. But badly in life. It’s just that their capacities when you can see the person as the person may be different.” disapproval, is, we can say there is acceptance”. Vidyakka opines, when it comes to giving freedom, as a Leader, she weighs how much dissent and so on. “For me, acceptance is the freedom or the Beautifully put! Vidyakka, as a School the behaviour of the teacher who may be space. I find that as a child I was given Principal what makes the parents have very good in her task academically is freedom and that’s where I learnt the value difficulty in giving space and freedom to influencing the morale of the student or the of it. I come from a home where they never allow the flowering to happen? team. Whenever there are concerns, a imposed too many restrictions on a girl. If I democratic conversation appreciating the say I will come home at 10’o clock, I have “Parents want a perfect score in teacher’s good work and pointing to the to enter the house at 9:59. Coming later than parenting. They see anything that the child areas of improvement works best. She 10 was not acceptable because I was given cannot accomplish or even struggles with, thinks, a Leader who accepts will naturally 5 Spot Light Conversations Today • September 2018 become a ‘go to’ person. She adds, “Whenever you thought it was too much work and I am setting 32 Vidyakka, how are you at home with Acceptance as listen to a story there are several sides. You can’t just question papers for a class of 32 students. The actual an attribute, especially with family? buy into one version and think that is the only version. trick is that, from each of those lessons set as many You have to listen without judgement; without bias; and questions as possible. What it requires is a logic, rubric also play a devil’s advocate. Many times people are not and a plan to set the paper. Once 800 marks worth paper seeing all perspectives or think what they do is the best is set, n number of question papers can be prepared. I option available. So the Leader has to provide other just tell my teachers this is what I am doing. I never perspectives and angles setting the teacher to think claim it as a best practice they should follow. Initially holistically. Leader should know to what extent one can teachers wanted to come and watch. Some of them then push and where is the space to let go. “ talk to children. Then they get very curious and begin to try out. Students love it because the question paper Vidyakka, usually how do you deal with your anxiety reflects their choice.” when you give freedom and accept? Has accepting something ever been difficult for you?

She quickly responds, “You can’t fool proof everything. If something does happen that is not right, Unless you have the you have to see how you can discuss the pros and cons; rather than criticizing ‘I told you so’. Even in my close circle, I only say I told you that the person has not inner-discipline or self- anticipated this but now it has happened just step in sort this out.” discipline that will “Interestingly, I have one of the most beautiful When I ask her about her role as a parent, she smiles relationships with my mother-in-law. In fact the bank adding, “Academically, my son struggled in some regulate your actions to where we have a joint account once refused to believe subjects that every parent wants to see high marks in. we are mother – in – law and daughter –in-law. When His school principal used to say, unfortunately we don’t we give respect and accept each other, relationship have evaluation for his responsibility, initiative, see that you don’t default blossoms. Amma still feels very happy running her empathy and leadership; if I have to give grade to those kitchen and her home. I feel grateful there is someone things I will give 100 plus. That is when I realized I have you cannot have others who takes care of me and others. Actually no one wants to accept the child for what the child is capable of ; why to feel excluded. Now that I have become a mother in push math when he could do so many non-math stuff meeting the expectations. law it is role reversal time but the same principles apply very well.“ to include her into the family. “ Vidyakka has always believed in doing her best and giving more than 100% to everything she does. This In Essence, what would be your thoughts about makes her also believe that if everyone can give their Acceptance? 100% to every little thing that they do, freedom becomes automatically theirs. What works to allow acceptance to blossom in “Everybody has skills, understanding, and others? What are the actions that can increase capabilities all in varying degrees. The conflict arises Vidyakka, give me one example of using acceptance acceptance in us? when we expect everybody to be equal to us or almost as a process in school. How do you use Acceptance as equal to us in all these. So, if we drop that lens, and be a learning process with teachers? Vidyakka thoughtfully says, “If you want people to willing to change location and see the same from live by certain standards you have to demonstrate those different standpoints, acceptance emerges. We have to standards. You have to first comply with whatever is also add the‘aerial view’ as well as ‘worm view’ to get a your expectation and rules. So to be a good leader you holistic perspective. It doesn’t matter who teaches you. have to be the best follower. Unless you have the inner- There is a teacher in everyone. I have to accept that I am discipline or self-discipline that will regulate your not perfect but I can always aspire to become better. “ actions to see that you don’t default you cannot have others meeting the expectations. I correct my answer sheets in 48 hours, whatever be the number. Any mail that anyone sends, or any query I need to get back to I have given myself 24 hours to respond. Acceptance is actually putting a rule to oneself. Whatever you want of others to comply with you have to put it to yourself first and know it. As a Nation itself we want others to follow rules but don’t want to abide by it.If we turn to be people who walk the talk, acceptance becomes a way of life. Acceptance needs a lot of reflection and introspection. For me my travel time every day to school and back is the best to reflect. It’s a time to myself. “

Some actions to learn acceptance according to Vidyakka are • Have conversations and not judgments when something wrong has happened • Give time to reflect “We have launched the triangulation in evaluation • Put down your thoughts where the peer evaluates the exam paper; the child • We give no space to just say ‘sorry’. Instead we evaluates and the teacher evaluates. All 3 marks are say if you feel what you did is not ok, don’t repeat recorded. The child now says it is fine to make certain it. That itself is to me an indication that you have mistakes; they feel the need to perform better. understood. Automatically, it kind of makes them feel they are • When people experience acceptance, they also Acceptance gives us a tremendous sense of fulfilment capable of putting better effort. learn to be tolerant and accepting. and space. It gives us the opportunity to learn, adapt and In my classes, I tell them that there are no right or • Meditation and circle time reflection are change. There is enjoyment with over 101% wrong answers. It is the way you put across your point activities as a part of our time table. Everyday involvement. Acceptance comes with responsibility of view. How convincing are you in the arguments half hour time for reflection is mandatory and accountability. where you have to validate what you are saying. This • Being with nature can be one of the most Let’s explore in the next sequel, the bond that forms perspective allows them to speak out because they know rewarding spaces to learn to flow and let go. through Responsibility in relationships. anything is fine. They are not judged. “It is not our differences that divides us. It is our I have even given students an opportunity to choose inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those —Dr Kalpana Sampath what they want to be tested on in English. The teachers differences.” – Unknown Cover Story 6 7 Cover Story Conversations Today • September 2018

In 1988, when Geeta founded Katha, she sparked off a revolution that would go on to FOR THE LOVE OF WORDS touch the lives of nearly 10 million children.

eeta Dharmarajan has a rather interesting take on But for an NGO who got children to read more, Katha 10,000 families. “From these learnings, we brought out today? “It’s our 300 Million Challenge,” replies Geeta, a Child) approach. “Hence the Katha Libraries — Gbooks. “A good storybook is like a piece of is now getting ready to infuse a whole new set of ideas our gender app,” says Geeta, “Now we are working on a “India has 300 million children in schools today. Of this, Community Owned and Operated Libraries or COOL, as chocolate that you just love,” she says, “And in our through books, apps and websites. The target, Geeta more ambitious digital project through the Katha Digital 150 million. we like to call them,” says Geeta, “We now operate in culture, when we have something good, we share it. says, is 300 million school-going children. “According Lab or the KADL.” I would like, with children can read, while the other 150 million can’t. So, over 60 under-served communities in many states, Stories are a bit like that.” In a nutshell, that’s also the to present estimates, it would seem that than 50 percent Today, releasing titles in Hindi is Katha’s priority. we bend over backwards for children, be it in publishing including Jammu and Kashmir.” story of how the founder and president of Katha started of our children cannot read at grade level,” she says, “I “With 45 million children in the Hindi speaking belt, for or taking good content to children living in poverty The main challenge that Katha contends with, though, getting children to read. “Kids are curious and creative, would like, with like-minded partners, to ensure that this is our first priority,” says Geeta, “We have like-minded through libraries, schools, public spaces. The Katha is inequality. “Lack of kindness to people and planet,” as and know a good thing or two when they have the good, colourful, fun e-books reach as many children published in Hindi since 1988. The other language we App will enlarge the reach in the next few years, making Geeta explains. But there’s a way to get around it, and opportunity to explore,” Geeta adds. as possible.” publish in is English. The Katha English Language Arts partners, to ensure books and enhancing the joy of reading for all our that’s imagination. “We in Katha dream of our children In 1988, when Geeta founded Katha, she sparked off That’s why the NGO will launch over 60 titles this for India (KELAI) is a whole educational framework for children.” being GEEKs in the very large sense of the word. Our a revolution that would go on to touch the lives of nearly year, alone, for children who Geeta describes as teaching English to children who do not grow up with that good, But the real game-changer, Geeta says is access — books celebrate kindness and equality for girls and planet 10 million children. But given that she began writing “diffident readers” and run the “risk of dropping out of much spoken English. This is something I have honed at access to good books. “Over the more than four decades earth,” says Geeta before adding, “We talk of global from the 1970s, that number could well go higher. school”. Given that reading is perhaps the greatest skill the Katha English Academy, since 2001.” colourful, fun that I have worked with and for children, I find most climate change, population genetics, empowered girls “Children need good books in their native languages,” there is, academically, Geeta thinks it will stay that way Katha has started releasing books in Telugu and it children are plagued by five poverties — social poverty and kind hearted boys who like animals and who are not she says, “And that is what Katha provides.” Since its well into in the 21stCentury. “Whatever the profession plans to move to Bangla and Tamil in the next two years. like caste, class, colour; personal leadership, intellectual scared of crying.” inception, the NGO has published nearly 400 titles, the child chooses, technology — especially mobile “But culture-linking is important for children,” says e-books reach as and imaginative, cultural and environmental poverties,” Presently, with about a lakh of volunteers — children, across 21 Indian languages and 12 foreign tongues. technology — is our lever for reaching out to more and Geeta, “Katha translates stories from 21 Indian and she says, “They need the knowledge and the skills to find youth, women — Katha is ringing in three decades of “Books need to be fun and wrapped in gorgeous colours more children who would love to read but presently do foreign languages. I believe strongly that translation is many children their own SPICE Route out of poverty. Katha books existence. “Continuing to help children to grow up to be and alluring language,” says Geeta. “If my books reach not get good books at school or in their homes,” she the non-divisive force for nation building for young enhance that moment of self discovery — helping readers reader-leaders, ethical, social and tech entrepreneurs who even a handful of kids who end up getting hooked to says. The organization has set itself a timeline of three Indians, to link diversities, forge identities.” as possible. think, ask questions, discuss and act — for themselves live fair, free and fearless lives, helping bring their them, I am happy.” By her own admission, Geeta gets a years to achieve this. So, what is the main focus of Katha in the next few and for their community.” families and communities out of poverty, is what we will kick out of seeing a child who cannot take their face off Getting this done involved launching an app, and the years? Does it involve increasing the number of children Katha’s focus is to get all 300 million children reading strive to keep doing,” Geeta signs off. a book. first of Katha’s apps had a hundred stories tested on it reaches out to, or releasing more titles than it has for fun and meaning through an ECTC (Each Child Teach Social Audit 8 Conversations Today • September 2018 SOCIAL VALUE – WHY ARE WE FORGETTING THE PLANET?

he increasing interest in ‘social Tvalue’ has led to an expansion of the social economy, big corporates rushing to show their ethical credentials and public sector organisations publishing their policies and new procurement strategies for social impact. But a swift review of these actions shows a worrying trend – we are starting to overlook the environment. In England and Wales, the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area. What is not widely known is that social value originated in response to environmental sustainability policy and practice. Indeed, in construction, the concept of sustainability has been ‘business as usual’ for many years. I believe that in 2017 there is now a pressing need to focus on the places where people live, the environment around us and the resources that we use. Increasing population causes waste, uses natural resources and creates global warming. Whilst politicians pull away from arguably ineffectual climate change agreements, the impacts of human activity on our planet and people expand in scale and depth. We have already seen global warming rising by over 1 degree, and climate change is now leading to increasingly severe impacts – from rapidly melting sea ice at the poles and 50-degree heat waves in India, to floods in Bangladesh and drought in California. The UK is seeing dramatic impacts too – with severe flooding in almost every region people to access employment, but are SAN methodology. We have been and country in the UK in they physically and mentally healthy challenged for this. Why should an recent years. enough to stay in these jobs? organisation which is set up for a In Manchester air pollution causes In England and Wales, Perhaps it’s time for a renewed purpose such as providing training over 1,000 premature deaths each look at ‘think global, act local’ – opportunities for young people have to year. Local authorities spend billions the Public Services (Social many little things done near to report on its environmental impact? of pounds each year dealing with Value) Act 2012 requires public home can make a difference. But The answer is because the waste. Fly tipping is on the increase. we now need more of the organisation might use natural resources Energy costs are spiralling. Green bodies to consider how the difference to be made closer to and energy, create waste or pollutants, belt land is being sacrificed to home as well as for our planet. employ staff who travel; and because build homes. services they commission and If ‘social value’ must include those young people might be living I originally trained as a landscape environmental benefits – as the shorter lives affected by air pollution, in architect and learned about how to procure might improve the legislation states – then using the an unpleasant and dirty neighbourhood, create a ‘genius loci’. Gardeners such economic, social and Social Audit Network’s (www. unable to afford to heat their homes. as Capability Brown created spaces socialauditnetwork.org.uk )social AND because we are heading for a where people wanted to be and felt environmental well-being accounting methodology is one way climatic emergency – over 3 degrees happy; a sense of place that makes to prove the positive benefit that you warming – and we all will need to do people feel good. It’s not really of the area. can have on the environment; to manage everything that we can to protect surprising that the happiest place to live and improve your performance; and be humanity from catastrophic levels of in the UK is the Outer Hebrides. Away accountable for this to your stakeholders climate change. from all that pollution so common on the – and the planet. –Anne Lythgoe, mainland, in a beautiful landscape, with how can we reverse the trend of ‘social SAN resources include a simple Social Audit Network, UK renewable energy schemes and pride in value’ being only about jobs, training ‘green office checklist’ and tips on how the local environment. But even this and doing local business? (Surely these to calculate your carbon footprint. There idyllic life is under threat from sea are really economic factors anyway?) are many simple online tools available level rise. Instead of ‘socio-economic’, should for tracking environmental measures. So, if our planet is suffering, and our we be thinking about ‘socio- Being accountable for environmental people’s health and wellbeing is at risk; environmental’? We may be helping measures is a compulsory element of the 9 NGO Profile Conversations Today • September 2018 FREEDOM IN-STEP WITH PROGRESS

An individual can do well in any “sphere of life, if only he/she is given the freedom of choice to do what they desire in life,” says Dr. Ravi S. Kumar, CEO and Managing Trustee of ‘Freedom For You Foundation’, based in Navi Mumbai. It is with this belief in basic human dignity, inclusivity and holistic, sustainable personal/societal development that the organization was first established, in 2004-2005. Dr. Ravi S Kumar says, “During my 35 years of working in social welfare sector, I have seen well-funded welfare organizations being inconsistent with the delivery of their services, switching their focus from one program to another, chiefly because their leadership was constantly changing.” This, he believes, led to many communities still remaining poor, disease-prone and unprotected from disasters even after being visited by one or more of these organizations. In order to ensure consistent support to the communities served, a group of like- minded people began pooling in their resources and started offering medical diagnostic camps at urban slums in Mumbai and its suburbs. In 2010 this was formally registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act, in the name of Freedom For You Foundation. Since then, they have been supported by MNCs and social impact agencies alike. Foundation provides basic educational responder training, orientation in projects for various corporate Freedom For You Foundation works at infrastructure (drinking water, toilets, disaster relief and rehabilitation organizations. They work on employee three levels: the personal level, helping Science labs, Computer Labs, lighting/ measures, and effective communication engagement programs, safety and underprivileged and distressed fans, play equipment, library etc. in & coordination with various agencies at emergency response training and individuals find help and resources to the Zilla Parishad schools and other the disaster sites. They currently have an disaster preparedness. pull themselves off their current private schools in impoverished rural ongoing relief and rehabilitation team One of the guiding principles of predicaments, the community level, and urban areas. working in Kerala after the recent Freedom For You Foundation is that, providing welfare facilities such as The Women Empowerment Program floods. Previously, teams had been sent “Modern society MUST recognize the health-check ups and skill-building includes health and wellness check-ups, to assist survivors of earthquakes in existential value of all beings in programs, and at a “Big Picture” level, skill-development program, Nepal and Bihar, in April and May 2015 creation. Modern economy thrives at the working on environment conservation, microfinance and rights-based respectively, as also to help with the bottom of the pyramid. A strong and disaster preparedness and sustainable education. The highlight of this program December 2015 Chennai floods. empowered base can make super- development. Their interventions are is the proposed establishment of the In health-services, they have recently powers of nations” largely designed around AET or Human Milk Bank, expected to open this piloted a mobile medical van in the “The foundation serves as a one-stop “Awareness, Education and Training”. year. It will help save lives of newborns, streets of Navi Mumbai, as recently as shop for Corporates and grassroots “Freedom4U creates awareness especially under- weight/preterm babies this month. They hope to expand the NGOs alike for assistance with programs, Educates and imparts by procuring mother’s milk from number of such mobile clinics in the implementing specific projects in necessary training to the target the bank. months to come. They offer pointed geographical regions in beneficiaries in the focus areas of Health The Freedom Kala Vikas Kendra are menstruation and reproductive health fulfilment of their larger sustainable & Wellness, Safety and Security, School skill-development centres located in awareness programs, along with development goals. Indeed the footprint and College education, Disaster several locations in Navi Mumbai as distribution of sanitary napkins. Their of the Freedom For You Foundation Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation, well as in rural Maharashtra. Currently “Restore Dignity” camps raise funds for expands from Navi Mumbai, to several by conducting capacity building and tailoring and bag-making is being taught providing custom prosthetic limbs for districts of rural Maharashtra, Goa and skill development programs,” says to women in these areas as an alternative persons with disabilities. Karnataka even,” says Dr. Ravi. Dr. Ravi. livelihood option. Freedom For You Foundation’s Bal Niketan Vidyalay is a playschool “More than 200,000 people die every environmental conservation includes –Archanaa Ramesh in Rabale Slums in Navi Mumbai that year of sudden cardiac arrest only in working on social forestry; large scale offers early education programs to MMR region (Mumbai, Thane and planned tree-plantation, watershed children aged 2-5 years. These being Raigad regions),” quotes the Freedom programs, rainwater harvesting, children of rag-pickers and daily wage For You Foundation website, adding that building aquifers, wells, check-dams labourers, the play schools help take care “First-Aid in ‘Golden Minutes’ of an and other type of simple dams to store of the children while their parents are accident is almost absent due to water in valleys and ravines. On the away at work. “Children need to enjoy untrained bystanders, as they are unable energy front, they promote solar and childhood by playing in groups, learning or unwilling to help the casualty.”The wind energy, and are currently in talks language, math and numerical skills, organization creates awareness on the with the Indian Institute of Technology intuitive skills, etc. There should be a importance of first-aid and encourages (IIT) for simple energy solutions for balanced mix of ‘play and learn’ people to initiate immediate assistance if rural students. activities in the early childhood they encounter a person in need of it, out The CSR activities of this foundation education to develop their physical and on the streets. include sharing of know-how through mental faculties for holistic Freedom For You Foundation makes their bespoke CSR solutions program. development.” Says Dr. Ravi. Through “Disaster Preparedness Education” a Freedom For You Foundation provides the SHEP project (School Health, priority. They conduct capacity building consultancy/advisory services on the Hygiene Project), Freedom For You training for disaster preparedness, first design and implementation of CSR Perspectives 10 Conversations Today • September 2018 Walking Beyond Tokenism

The link between Fair trade and climate change is complex but interconnected. By subscribing to the former, you help alleviate the effects of the latter. Pushpanath Krishnamurthy has taken 30 million steps in support of climate justice and the fairtrade movement. Read about his remarkable journey so far.

am so moved by the heart wrenching South Asia’s first Fairtrade town was I impact of climate change across the born and is flourishing now. globe, where women were hit first, worst Furthermore, the movement towards and hardest. sustainable production and fair trade is It made me question my own personal slowly blossoming in India (e.g. tea, responsibility. I was, as always inspired coffee, groundnut, cotton) is by Mahathma Gandhi, as to what he said encouraging. Furthermore, schools and about “being the change you want see to consumers are taking a prolonged, in the world.” Much like his famous robust interest. In addition, fashion “Salt March”, in the winter of 2009 as revolutionising activities are leading to the world leaders were assembling, yet innovative collaboration. In my opinion, again, this time in Copenhagen to agree the single most important outcome was on a global climate treaty, I decided (a the widespread influence the walk had regular guy), to walk to the conference. on workers, housewives, school children Of course, as I did not live locally, this and of course, farmers who swamped me meant from Oxford to Copenhagen, a wherever I went. total of 595 kilometers. I have taken 30 million steps and have My job at Oxfam at the time was as a met approximately quarter million global Campaigner and a popular people. People say it is worth a book! mobilizer. For the purpose of this walk, I Almost all of this, I have done within my had managed to convince the own small pension, to carry on the good management in Oxfam that I will take work, a small donation would be most my annual leave to do this walk. appreciated. But for me, more people “I will gate crash the summit if need joining and making a fairer, sustainable be” I thought, as I walked on the frozen, world is far more vital. My one ask, to all windswept, sunless days. I have walked readers, cynics and supporters alike, is before and have gate crashed meetings, I that fair trade is definitely one way we believed, like Gandhi, that I have a right can make a sustainable business. The to serve and I don’t think anyone can link between Fair trade and climate take that away from me. I walked, slipping and falling periodically and at times, I was lost and mobilization of all stakeholders, felt scared, reciting the powerful poem business, and policymakers, the by Tamil/Indian poet Bharathi, “Even if national/state government and across the big blue sky falls on your forehead, sections of the Western Ghat society. walk fearlessly, fearlessly, fearlessly” to The movement is led by the grower’s keep my spirits high. leadership and the effort is a work in Originally, I was just thinking I would progress. As many experiments on be walking and would hopefully meet a adaptation and mitigation is undertaken few people, but I could not believe how along with efforts to Brand the Coffee. much of an impact it has had, with many As the world leaders were discussing others deciding to take action in 2015/2016, yet again, in Paris, for a themselves. I was also so blessed with FAB (Fair; Ambitious; and Binding) the friendship, support, generosity of deal, a last ditch effort by Obama and the communities, all that a product of European leadership, with big players historical goodwill that Oxfam had like China and India coming to the table garnered and which, I shamelessly willingly, I was walking furiously on the harvested in good faith as I was red earth soil kicking up a shower of sheltered, fed, connected and cared. vermillion up to my body. As always my The power of stories that I carried power walk (to show time is running city of Chennai (formerly Madras) was collected through Hearings, came in out) left the handful who managed to under a deluge of unprecedented change is complex but interconnected. handy as I connected from keep step, gasping while we left behind proportions. My wife and elderly By subscribing to the former, you help parliamentarians and priests to scores to saunter at their own pace. parents in a ground floor apartment alleviate the effects of the latter. postwomen and passenger train drivers. This 450 kilometers walk along the slowly swallowed by rising water, but Growers, consumers and businesses all My mobile was called from across the seashore, across the plains of Tamil everyone including them still supported have their combined role to play, to world: India, US, Africa, East Asia and Nadu and up to the Mountain from the me to continue the walk with my fellow make a significant impact for a even Iceland! I had by the virtue of this union territory of Pondicherry to the walker, Natesa Iyer! sustainable world. walk, gone from being an unknown to a peak of the Blur Mountain, could not This walk felt so complete because it Please visit my blog: www.gopushgo. global climate campaigner. have happened without the marvellous was the initiative of businesses joined by co.uk and support me with your words This first walk led me to think that I support, energy and inspiration of the household consumers, professionals like and experience too, donate via the now needed to connect to significant first generation business leader, doctors, farmers, lawyers, organic portal and do invite me to speak at your growers, business entities and different Anjali Schiavina, of the famous growers, mothers, teachers and events to raise awareness in your societies. A thought that I took to Oxfam Mandala Apparels. students. I met more than 8000 people organisations and moved to India, working for a small It was also very surprising and directly and easily a couple of million outfit like “Central For Social Markets”. poignant every time I set out to walk, the through Radio, Broadsheet, TV and —Pushpanath Krishnamurthy, A partnership with a very large climate and the weather seem to wreak social media. Global Consultant and Campaigner Growers Federation led to me to havoc at the starting point. This time, the Since the walk, the idea of making undertake my next walk and the 11 Inspirations Conversations Today • September 2018

Acceptance

A man took great pride in his lawn. Once, on his return from a trip abroad, he found a large crop of dandelions in his lawn. He tried every method he knew to destroy them. Still they plagued him. Finally he wrote to the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tired, and closed the letter with the question: “What shall I do now?” In due course the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them.”

Explicit Learning Introspective Learning A. Cribbing about a weakness becomes another A. How do I respond to the dandelions in me? weakness. B. Why do I fail to understand that what I resist only B. Learning to accept a weakness in itself a strength. persists? C. What you resist persists. C. What is the nature of ‘Acceptance'?

c Sampath J.M., Discovery 3rd edi�on, Insight Publishers, Bangalore, India, 2007

Centre for Social Initiative and Management

entre for Social CSIM also facilitates Social Contact Persons: Initiative and Accounting and Audit for Management (CSIM) is C social enterprises, CSR a unit of Manava Seva Dharma Ms. Marie Banu, Dr. Madhuri. R, Samvardhani. It is a learning projects, and NGOs centre that promotes the concept Director, Chennai Head, Coimbatore, through Social Audit of social entrepreneurship. @ 9884700029 @ 9840222559 CSIM offers training and Network, India (SAN consultancy to social India). enterprises – for-profits and Mr. Ramesh Mr. Sandeep Mehto, Balasundaram non- profits – to facilitate them Head – Hosangabad , For further information, to apply successful business Director, Bangalore @ 96696 77054 please contact: practices and yet retain their @ 9845211311 social mission. Ms.Latha Suresh, It also offers training and hand Director, SAN, India holding support to prospective K L Srivastava Mr. , @ 92822 05123. social entrepreneurs and enable Director, Hyderabad them to launch their social www.san-india.org initiatives. @ 9912656112 For more information, please visit our website www.csim.in CHIT CHAT 12 Conversations Today • September 2018 “I wake up every day feeling alive to my responsibilities.”

Cafe, Freedom bakery at Puzhal I cannot BELIEVE that this idea of Prison, and Eddies Pop Corn. What has mine is a decade old, even my wife M.Mahadevan shares with Marie Banu his been the inspiration? discouraged me (when I spoke to her in When I landed in Chennai searching the first year) saying that no one will pay journey as a social entrepreneur for a job, I have stayed without food and 5000 rupees for an evening of dinner proper roof over my head. With sharing and entertainment. accommodation, sharing food and It is a fun-filled evening with great . Mahadevan, fondly called ‘Hot At the hotel, I witnessed people who going hungry I know what life without food, fantastic music, and the coming MBreads’ Mahadevan, has been in came and threw money on fancy dinners resources is! together of like-minded people – all for a the hospitality and catering business for and drinks. They were spending my one- When I had enough money, I social cause! Chefs of leading 5 star over three decades now. Hailing from month salary on their one night dinner. remembered my mother’s brief talk on hotels and their teams put together a Udumalpet, a simple town in Tamil Here came the fire in the belly to become living and giving. She used to say: “If delightful buffet showcasing their Nadu located 65 kilometers from rich and that made me work hard to the Lord bestowed you with more than culinary talent and throw it open to the Coimbatore; Mahadevan has also served become a food entrepreneur as I had a what you need, the extra he gives you is people of Chennai, to raise funds for as a teaching professor at the University passion for food. for the society and not for you.” Her close to 100 NGOs across Tamil Nadu. of Madras. Both his parents are doctors. I left my teaching job and moved to the advice and my struggle to conduct my The restaurants, the chefs and their His passion for food led him to start F&B sector full time in 1982. I studied day-to-day life in early Chennai days teams cook up and serve this feast as Oriental Cuisines Private Limited deep into the food and beverage business taught me to share what I have with the their “act of giving”. Close to 3000 (OCPL) in May 1994. He set up the first and acquired enough knowledge to go needy people. Chennaites are expected to attend the Hot Breads outlet in Chennai in 1989 on my own. Money is only a tool to live; it is not event by donating (Platinum -Rs.15,000 and in Dubai in 1995. ‘Hot Breads’ life. I began to see the poverty around or Gold -Rs.10,000 or Silver - success has been replicated and has now About your entrepreneurial journey in me and realised that the more I expand Rs.7,500) to an NGO they care grown to over 30 locations in India and the restaurant space? my business, the more jobs I would be and support. more than 40 abroad. My first step was a Chinese take-away able to create for people. I wake up every The event organized by Chennai Mahadevan works with more than 252 at a restaurant in Chennai, which I day feeling alive to my responsibilities. I Mission, United way of Chennai, and partners across 18 countries, 476 launched along with a partner who I met have earned enough money and am now CIOSA, gives NGOs a lot of visibility eateries and more than 5,000 employees. in the hotel where I was working. We in a position to give back. among donors. It also networks various He runs three banners — Oriental served food from 5pm to 11.30pm and it I also believe in sustainability in donors with newer and deserving NGOs. Cuisines, CC Fine Foods and B&M Hot was the time when people had a craze for Charity Projects and always had a clear The registered NGOs will be present in Breads. The brands that he manages with Chinese food. I took advantage of that! vision – “I should never give fish, person to share and show case their his global partners are Benjarong, Sera, Once, a customer of mine asked if I instead should teach them to fish.” This expertise and projects, thus providing a Ente Keralam, Wang’s Kitchen, Teppan, would be interested to set up a restaurant planned approach gave me all the above great platform for public interaction on French Loaf, and Planet Yumm. Besides, in a commercial tower that he was social enterprises, which provides social causes and action. he has set up 42 bakeries and restaurants constructing. That’s how I launched empowerment to the poor people and Here we are from 81 lac (for 32 in the USA, Middle East, Africa, ‘Cascade’ where we served Chinese, takes them out of poverty by teaching NGOs) in 2009 to 6.7 crores that was Canada, France and London. Thai, Malay and Japanese cuisines them a skill. raised last year from collective Mahadevan has also been helping as well. donation by over 75 create entrepreneurs by starting Winners Some three years later, in 1989, I Which of the social issues are you NGOs. Now, it’s time Bakeries to help young bright people set launched ‘Hot Breads’. This was a passionate about? for me to handover up their own outlets. There are five in turning point! The idea was born during Two social issues are of highest this event to a Chennai and four in Coimbatore. He also one of my trips to Singapore where I priority for me – Home for the larger teaches bread making to prisoners in went to source ingredients like Chinese destitute men & women; and organization, Chennai’s Central Prison at Puzhal. sauces. The dinky looking bakeries empowerment of abused & as in 2018 we Writer’s café, his third venture on the caught my eye and I decided to launch a poor women. have over 100 social front, rehabilitate survivors of similar one back home. Not many of my My mother has been my NGOs domestic abuse, acid attacks and fire friends encouraged my move. They instrumental force. If I am participating accidents. A philanthropist, a social thought that I was crazy, but I had my inclined towards women and have entrepreneur, his charitable deeds own ideas. It was not just the bread and empowerment, it is because of fixed a are endless. bakery that I was looking at! her. She ensured that my sisters fundraising In an exclusive interview, Mr. M. I created some exciting concepts. For got a degree in either law or target Mahadevan shares with Marie Banu instance, we made curry bun and filled medicine and believed that when exceeding his journey as a social entrepreneur. chicken tikka inside a croissant. I got the you educate a girl, you educate seven idea after seeing what the Japanese did the family. crores. What was the driving force for you to to their bakery items. This was a huge move from teaching to becoming a hit! People used to crowd in our Hot You have been Food entrepreneur? Breads outlet at Alsa Mall in Chennai. organising Battle of This was a journey I took to make From day one, we started to make profits the Buffet event in money; there was no other motive. as the concept was unique and our Chennai to raise I started my career as an Assistant products were tasty. We broke even in funds for NGOS. Professor in the University of Madras in the first year and since then we never Can you tell us 1979 and taught Marketing Management looked back. about this? and Accountancy to students. But, my After three months or so, people from Battle of the fierce ambition was to be a part of the Kochi and Bangalore approached me to Buffet event is hotel industry and this drove me to start Hot Breads units in these cities. organized as part of satisfy my urge. Soon, I came to be known as ‘Hot India’s largest I took up a part-time night job with a Breads’ Mahadevan! festival of giving hotel in the city where I started working I opened my first international outlet – ‘Daan Utsav’, a for four hours at night to learn more in Dubai in 1994, and recently launched unique about the industry. I juggled with many a south Indian restaurant in fundraiser that roles; from being a trainee, a bellboy, Melbourne, Australia. supports and receptionist - to almost everything. worthy NGOs So, while I worked as a professor during You have been setting up several in Tamil the daytime, I also moonlighted as an ‘Social Enterprises’ like the Give Life Nadu. apprentice with a hotel in the evenings. Cafe, Winners Bakery, and Writers