Self Discipline
Self discipline is an attribute which has to be ingrained in the minds of the youth from the formative years. Human beings have acquired predominant animal instincts from the process of evolution. There are many values that one inherits from the family which is the basic unit of society. The family and its values of sharing, love, concern for each other, and so on, must be preserved at all costs. The children of the next generation learn from the family values instilled in them in their adolescent years.
Self discipline is essential for progress in all spheres of human activity and is a measure of our cultural heritage. Indians in general lack self discipline which leads to corruption, inefficient services, poor infra structure, lawlessness, cheating, poor civic sense, and in general flouting of every conceivable rule or law of the land enacted for the society at large. The law makers are themselves the law breakers!
It should be the endeavour of each and everyone to be self disciplined and instill the same in our children and youth within one's sphere of influence.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Basic concepts and guidelines for social work
Basic beliefs: (Respecting, Serving, Striving and Seeking)
1. Respect for the poor and downtrodden.
2. Service to the poor.
3. Striving for excellence.
4. Seek directions of Spiritual Director.
Ten Rules for social Action and Charity Work
01. Commitment and Involvement in the work undertaken for the poor.
02. Share information with all Members.
03. Motivate all partners in the social work program.
04. Communicate everything you possibly can to donors and volunteers.
05. Appreciate everything each one contributes towards rendering help
to the poor.
06. Celebrate your success with all well- wishers and donors.
07. Listen to everyone.
08. Exceed your donors' expectation.
09. Control your expenses better than you manage your household expenses.
10. Swim upstream.
Rule 1
Commitment and involvement means bringing passion to one's
work. Those who have passion, who love their work, would try to do
their best. Humility is an essential ingredient.
Rule 2
Share information with all. Everything has to be an open book.
Keep accounts accurate and all donations fully accounted for at all
times. Maintain detailed expenditure, on daily basis.
Rule 3
Motivate members, volunteers, and donors, for concrete action.
Rule 4
Communicate everything possible to dispel any distrust amongst
all agencies connected with social work for the poor.
Rule 5
Appreciate everything anyone does for the poor. Words of
praise will raise public trust. Selecting and training volunteers
goes a long way to really serve the poor.
Rule 6
Celebrate your success with the poor. Distribute aid items on
need basis to improve quality of life. These acts should be home
delivered.
Rule 7
Listen to everyone and adopt good ideas to further the aim of
helping the poor. Evolve and execute projects, which gets the poor on
their feet.
Rule 8
Exceed your donors expectations. Always give them more than
they expect. Public judge our actions on ground rather than publicize
what we plan or intend to do.
Rule 9
Control expenses better than ever. Keeping costs down will
give advantage to reach out to more poor. Each Rupee saved is Rupee
earned. This is the best way to respect our donors. Do not collect/
raise funds more than is basically required for the work undertaken.
Do not invest donors' money in banks or stock, as this action will
not be appreciated by them. Donors' money is intended only for
social/ charitable work.
Rule 10
Swim upstream. Ignore conventional wisdom. If everybody else
is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find better results
by going exactly in the opposite direction. But be prepared for a lot
of people to wave you down and tell you are headed the wrong way.
Volunteer work is very demanding. Get the volunteers to man the fort.
Encourage and let the movement grow.
Basic beliefs: (Respecting, Serving, Striving and Seeking)
1. Respect for the poor and downtrodden.
2. Service to the poor.
3. Striving for excellence.
4. Seek directions of Spiritual Director.
Ten Rules for social Action and Charity Work
01. Commitment and Involvement in the work undertaken for the poor.
02. Share information with all Members.
03. Motivate all partners in the social work program.
04. Communicate everything you possibly can to donors and volunteers.
05. Appreciate everything each one contributes towards rendering help
to the poor.
06. Celebrate your success with all well- wishers and donors.
07. Listen to everyone.
08. Exceed your donors' expectation.
09. Control your expenses better than you manage your household expenses.
10. Swim upstream.
Rule 1
Commitment and involvement means bringing passion to one's
work. Those who have passion, who love their work, would try to do
their best. Humility is an essential ingredient.
Rule 2
Share information with all. Everything has to be an open book.
Keep accounts accurate and all donations fully accounted for at all
times. Maintain detailed expenditure, on daily basis.
Rule 3
Motivate members, volunteers, and donors, for concrete action.
Rule 4
Communicate everything possible to dispel any distrust amongst
all agencies connected with social work for the poor.
Rule 5
Appreciate everything anyone does for the poor. Words of
praise will raise public trust. Selecting and training volunteers
goes a long way to really serve the poor.
Rule 6
Celebrate your success with the poor. Distribute aid items on
need basis to improve quality of life. These acts should be home
delivered.
Rule 7
Listen to everyone and adopt good ideas to further the aim of
helping the poor. Evolve and execute projects, which gets the poor on
their feet.
Rule 8
Exceed your donors expectations. Always give them more than
they expect. Public judge our actions on ground rather than publicize
what we plan or intend to do.
Rule 9
Control expenses better than ever. Keeping costs down will
give advantage to reach out to more poor. Each Rupee saved is Rupee
earned. This is the best way to respect our donors. Do not collect/
raise funds more than is basically required for the work undertaken.
Do not invest donors' money in banks or stock, as this action will
not be appreciated by them. Donors' money is intended only for
social/ charitable work.
Rule 10
Swim upstream. Ignore conventional wisdom. If everybody else
is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find better results
by going exactly in the opposite direction. But be prepared for a lot
of people to wave you down and tell you are headed the wrong way.
Volunteer work is very demanding. Get the volunteers to man the fort.
Encourage and let the movement grow.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Shall we ever improve?
We may never reach the pinnacles of human behaviour found elsewhere, but we can at least think of taking small steps in that direction. The two issues that stare at us are "Muddled Generation" and "The lack of role models". There are lot of models but no role models. The character and general behaviour of Indians have a lot to do with the above issues. While the country is booming in all sectors of the economy, we are standstill in out basic behaviour. One sees a blatant lack of courtesy and discipline in all spheres of life. Crude behaviour at the worst. It is not only inside India but even Indian community residing in other Nations whine and complain excessively about their experiences in India whenever they set foot in their Motherland- and that too about custom authorities, the airport, the toilets, the roads, streets and so on and so forth. We Indians revel in breaking every conceivable laid down rules and get very caustic and very frustrated when prevented from doing so. Bring in any rule and within a very short time ways would have been found to circumvent it. The same attitude can be seen all around us, whether it is driving, one way streets, red signals, railway gates, paying taxes or appearing in courts. Another great trait is that of the inability of an Indian to ever stand in a queue and that too in a line perpendicular to the counter concerned. You will always find them spread along the counter like multi- headed arrow, trying to have their jobs done in little time as possible and at the same time prying into what the person at the counter is doing. Another inherent quality of an Indian is to cheat. One gets cheated most of the time by traders, conman, pickpockets, workers, robbers, and so on. One is resigned to this, as an everyday norm. Even the so called educated persons who form part of an organisation will flout all the rules. Some even play God and try to cheat God.
Even in religious matters they pay, pray and obey with a view to cheat the system. As an example they would pay a subscription of Rs 0.50 per month and would want all the benefits that can be freely derived from it. Many Indians are keen to do charity works and join societies but in the final draw, the noble cause would have taken a nose dive and then they have redrawn their own agenda of spinning money in various banks. The charity work forgotten in totality. This happens all the time throughout the length and breadth of our great country!
When will we improve? Will we ever improve? Though I am an eternal optimist, this particular question will have all of us stumped!
Credit: Partly modified article from "The Hindu"
We may never reach the pinnacles of human behaviour found elsewhere, but we can at least think of taking small steps in that direction. The two issues that stare at us are "Muddled Generation" and "The lack of role models". There are lot of models but no role models. The character and general behaviour of Indians have a lot to do with the above issues. While the country is booming in all sectors of the economy, we are standstill in out basic behaviour. One sees a blatant lack of courtesy and discipline in all spheres of life. Crude behaviour at the worst. It is not only inside India but even Indian community residing in other Nations whine and complain excessively about their experiences in India whenever they set foot in their Motherland- and that too about custom authorities, the airport, the toilets, the roads, streets and so on and so forth. We Indians revel in breaking every conceivable laid down rules and get very caustic and very frustrated when prevented from doing so. Bring in any rule and within a very short time ways would have been found to circumvent it. The same attitude can be seen all around us, whether it is driving, one way streets, red signals, railway gates, paying taxes or appearing in courts. Another great trait is that of the inability of an Indian to ever stand in a queue and that too in a line perpendicular to the counter concerned. You will always find them spread along the counter like multi- headed arrow, trying to have their jobs done in little time as possible and at the same time prying into what the person at the counter is doing. Another inherent quality of an Indian is to cheat. One gets cheated most of the time by traders, conman, pickpockets, workers, robbers, and so on. One is resigned to this, as an everyday norm. Even the so called educated persons who form part of an organisation will flout all the rules. Some even play God and try to cheat God.
Even in religious matters they pay, pray and obey with a view to cheat the system. As an example they would pay a subscription of Rs 0.50 per month and would want all the benefits that can be freely derived from it. Many Indians are keen to do charity works and join societies but in the final draw, the noble cause would have taken a nose dive and then they have redrawn their own agenda of spinning money in various banks. The charity work forgotten in totality. This happens all the time throughout the length and breadth of our great country!
When will we improve? Will we ever improve? Though I am an eternal optimist, this particular question will have all of us stumped!
Credit: Partly modified article from "The Hindu"
Christmas 2006
The spirit of the season is love and sharing. It is this joy which cherishes and embellishes our lives. Each human being is precious and very much different. Many live in poverty and hunger. The marginalised are the most vulnerable. What they require to live as a human being, should be our concern. The poor require a shelter, a livelihood with skills to work and earn, food for the family and access to medical aid and assistance. Let us discern what we can do in little matters that can bring happiness to at least one such family in our neighbourhood.
Merry Christmas.
The spirit of the season is love and sharing. It is this joy which cherishes and embellishes our lives. Each human being is precious and very much different. Many live in poverty and hunger. The marginalised are the most vulnerable. What they require to live as a human being, should be our concern. The poor require a shelter, a livelihood with skills to work and earn, food for the family and access to medical aid and assistance. Let us discern what we can do in little matters that can bring happiness to at least one such family in our neighbourhood.
Merry Christmas.
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