“If someone asks me a question, ‘What is it you see when you look out the window that is visible but not yet seen by others’ I will answer, ‘I see a world filled with people with a huge potential lying untapped. If I can identify their strengths and inspire them to unlock their potential, I feel that I have made a difference in the world.’” ―Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D., The Father of Soft Leadership
There is growing importance attached to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with companies looking up aggressively and making good profits. Every company is giving returns to its shareholders, paying salaries to its employees making payments to its raw material vendors, and paying interest to its financial institutions. All the people involved in the company right from the stakeholders to the shareholders benefit in different ways. But what is about the common man? He too expects something from the companies, which are generating a lot of wealth. William Pollard aptly said, "It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute".
Prof. Amartya Sen bagged the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998 for his contribution to the cause of Welfare Economics. All the companies across the world are contributing something towards the people by way of CSR.
In developed countries, people are protected by way of social security measures. The unemployed will get some allowance to maintain themselves if there is no job or loss of job. Old age homes are there to protect the old people. Pensions are provided to the old people to sustain themselves. Even if children do not take care of their parents, there are securities provided to the aged people by various means. People have the trend of spending and borrowing, as the people are not bothered about their old age. The risk-taking capacity is higher in those developed countries because one finds himself protected by all means. Whereas in the case of India, unfortunately, we do not have such social security measures as we are still a developing economy.
In this context, it is the people in general who should take up the responsibility individually to support the social groups and communities. I would like to coin it as Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) because society is the collection of all individuals. As too many tiny drops become a great ocean. The collective contribution of all individuals can make our society both qualitative and quantitative. The combined contribution of ISR and CSR will make global society prosperous.
Each individual must come forward to donate either physically or monetarily towards society, as charity begins at home. Mahatma Gandhi aptly said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Individuals can donate his/her eyes after death to eye banks so that the eyes can bring light to blind people. Individuals can donate whatever the possible amount for the marriage of the daughters of poor families. Similarly, everyone must do something on the eve of their birthday or marriage or any auspicious day at the orphan homes. Those who are not blessed with children can adopt children from orphan homes. Where there is a will there is a way. If there is an attitude of charity then everyone can contribute to society in many ways.
Each literate must make a firm commitment and take a pledge to create one more literate. India still lives in villages and the majority of illiterates are there in the villages who still grope in darkness. It is time we wake them up and raise their expectations and aspirations towards contributing to a better society. To put it in the words of Jonas Salk, "Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors." One should always be proud of being a good ancestor rather than a good inheritor.
A few people do not have time but they have a big heart and they contribute a lot to society after adjusting their hectic schedules. To put him in the lines of Anthony Robbins, "Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back, by becoming more."
Teaching professionals can teach the poor and needy daily for an hour and can contribute to society. They must train the less privileged lot so that they can earn their living. Those who get good salaries can part away a month of their annual salary for sponsoring a poor student or they can monthly earmark an amount for the education of poor children.
Child labor is a matter of grave concern in India. Many parents, due to lack of economic resources, send their children to work although they know that it is illegal to exploit their children. Every individual must look at the problem at the root level and find out and check it. Paul Tillich said, “The first duty of love is to listen.” Every individual must be proactive and should listen to the conscience of the needy to meet their needs.
Women at home are still the untapped potential in India. Teaching skills like knitting, making jute bags, tailoring, beauty parlor services, cloth printing, mat making, repairing TV and radio, and making cotton and nylon bags will help them learn and make extra income. The extra income so generated will improve their living standards. And also teaching about yoga and meditation can help them establish their establishments. Nowadays people work harder and they are developing high-stress levels. Opening meditation or yoga centers relieves their stress levels and enhances their productivity levels.
There is a limitation to the charity work and the best thing is to help them stand on their own feet. There is a Chinese proverb, which says, “Give a fishnet and teach a man how to fish so that he can have plenty of fish regularly.” Instead of giving fish daily, teach a person how to catch fish so that the person can become confident and independent. All individuals must look forward to teaching things or concepts in such a way that they stand on their legs and live independent and dignified lives.
Children can also participate in various constructive activities such as bringing awareness about ecology by planting one at their homes and watering regularly. They can once in a while go in groups to bring awareness about rainwater harvesting, controlling the traffic, helping blind people to cross over busy roads, etc.,
When someone extends help in return s/he should not demand a simple 'thanks', s/he must take a firm commitment from the person to extend such help to two more people and ensure that the network grows exponentially. Over some time we would find a society filled with great charitable people resulting in the concept of 'Sarwa Jano Sukhino Bavanthu (let all people live with peace and happiness).
A lot of dry land is lying unutilized/untapped. Individuals must come forward to make it fertile and cultivable to increase revenue. Abraham Lincoln aptly said, "You can't escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." What could become a major problem tomorrow must be addressed right now.
The idea of ISR (Individual Social Responsibility) has come and it is here to stay because ‘No one can stop the idea whose time has come.’
“Nothing is greater than serving others with a great heart. We live in a world where there is a huge competition for takers and the least competition for givers. So, be a giver and serve your societies and communities to build a better world.” ―Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D., The Father of Soft Leadership
Reference
https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Leadership-Innovative-Negotiation-Prosperity/dp/1628655909
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Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India
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