Service Matters Over Funds, NGOs Tell Corporates

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) entails a change in attitude towards people with special needs and is not just about writing a cheque -- this was the message that NGOs were out to convey at the CSR Summit 2014 and NGO Mela organised here on Tuesday by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Participating NGOs echoed that more volunteers are required to enable them to reach out to vulnerable groups like underprivileged children and people with special needs. This gap is yet to be bridged, said Abhijit Mukherjee, Director (resource mobilisation), The Association of People with Disability.

“Corporates must appreciate and understand the causes that NGOs work for. We need more volunteer support. There is no doubt that financial help is also required,” he added.

Nagasimha G Rao, Associate Director of Child Rights Trust, said there is a need for corporates to change their attitude towards giving to NGOs.

“It is not just about charity. Most of the present CSR work involves service-based work. It does not suffice to provide clothes, textbooks and food,” he said.

A M Muralidharan, convener of the CII Karnataka CSR, Diversity and Inclusion, said the mela aimed to connect NGOs with corporates. “We are looking at NGOs specialised in education, health-related work, skill development, employability and entrepreneurship,” he added.

As many as 41 NGOs put up stalls at the mela and got an opportunity to connect with over 50 companies

ource:http://www.newindianexpress.com/.