Doing our bit...

I have used company transportation to commute to office during my corporate days in Bangalore for approximately a decade. 

I used my car when I had to take my parents out, particularly my father. After his attack, way back in 2001, he seemed a little feeble and fragile and so we avoided bus. My mother, on the other hand, likes long bus rides just like me. Give her a window seat; she will wear her collar (Spondylitis) and happily enjoy the trip.

For me, my car was just a temporary need, like my washing machine or the geyser. It bothered me to see people drive 30 – 40 kms every day to reach office, or when someone needs a car even to pick grocery or vegetables, though the shop is just 2 - 3 kms away from home and mostly offer home delivery.

I actually faced real Bangalore traffic when I had to come to office from my village home, after I moved to the outskirts in 2012. Before that, for ten years my old home was just 3 kms away from my office. It was ridiculous to see dozens of cars near Silk Board, Hosa Road with just the owner driving and their laptop bag in the side seat or back seat. 

Don’t they seriously realize they are solely responsible for traffic, pollution, environment hazards and health concerns? When I see many women, use stoles to cover head and filter the air they breathe using the same stole, it immediately makes me wonder about children who are exposed to this, on a daily basis.

A little inconvenience in public transport, a little sweat, a little planning to car-pool, a little waiting for bus or a little early departure from home to reach on time, an occasional bus ride at least once in a while, can actually create a huge difference.

I lost my father in 2011 and since then I hardly need the car. It still stands majestically, in the parking space, more as a memory of what I had bought it for in the first place – to take care of someone. 

That age old question beaten to death in multiple forums still needs attention - Are we not responsible to take care of future generation?

It is only when most of us start using public transport will the authorities take into consideration the potential revenues it can generate and make it better to accommodate more and build quality standards around public transport.

It was great to read about Nandan Nilekani, former CEO of Infosys using a bus on 4^th March this year – doing his bit. I immediately subscribed to his website to know more.

I am doing my bit too.

Are you? Will you?

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P.S – My car is chauffeur driven as I cannot drive, which gives me the solace that the few times I take out my car, some hard working guy is making an extra buck for his family - that is great guilt neutralizer actually:)

Can We Have A More Fashionable Cause To Support?

What is more fashionable – Painting the school walls or Global Warming; planting trees or women empowerment; Cancer aid or going viral on mental health?

We have not started our corporate touring to raise funds for old age home yet.  As a business man for over two decades, many corporate have been our clients and my interaction with them is limited to closing deals. I learn from my contacts who work in corporate what happens in the name of CSR activities and how an NGO or school or cause is identified to disburse funds meant for social uplifting. 

The fundamental question is what is more important – The right cause or building company’s brand? How do you want people to remember your company – someone who paints school walls one year and gives sewing machines the second year and desktops to unemployed youth the third year? Caring for the community is a strategy for business and yet, the human connect is the God of all strategies. 

With all your community initiatives, are you able to connect with the community?

Do not shop for causes as it is not only immature but it defeats the purpose. Connect with a cause, not because it is a fashion but because of how passionately you think about it.

Two years back, when my school friend suggested registering a society to create awareness on Dementia, I jumped in. We did not do a survey then to check if this cause was good and fashionable enough. We do market penetration for commodities, not causes. The whole point was - we saw the need to create awareness on Dementia because most of us were clueless. We had a task in hand.

In my capacity in COMPASS, when I sign a check to support children with Autism,  or as a father plan to celebrate 15^th August with orphans or one of us from Ramosara runs for Diabetes – our actions speak louder than words for what Ramosara Foundation’s fundamental and principle philosophy is:

Every cause is important.

Human Life Cycle Care (HLCC) is one of our themes that broaden the horizon for you and us to add value to people’s lives wherever we can, in any cause you feel connected to.

Just get the motives right! And we can claim to be God’s children doing God’s work in our own individual way.

Look forward to read more about our Alternate Living Model under HLCC wing or connect with us to know more.

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Anup Agarwal is a Physics (H) graduate with a degree/ diploma from Annamalai University and Apple. A successful entrepreneur and has been in Business for close to two decades. He is associated with Lion’s Club for several years. His family trust sponsors Hospital Beds in Malda. He is also aligned to social activities for COMPASS i.e. Computer Association for Eastern India. He is life member of compass. He is a key member of Ramosara Foundation