Raghu Dixit sings a new tune

Raghu Dixit, singer-musician, humanitarian effort, NGO, Rang de, financial support, education microloans

It is common knowledge that Folk/Rock singer Raghu Dixit spellbinds audiences with his music while on stage, but what most people don't know is that the singer-musician has a philanthropic bone as well. Taking a step forward, Dixit has pledged R5 lakhs to the NGO Rang De, to be used as education microloans.

Singer-musician Raghu Dixit

Since 2012, Dixit has been associated with Rang De - an online platform for peer-to-peer lending that allows individuals and corporates to invest in borrowers from low-income households by providing them with affordable microloans.

"We all know and agree that poverty is the biggest long-standing problem that ails India. It's easy and common of us - urban, well-to-do India - to shake our heads and curse our country and the government's apathy every morning when we read or watch news about the country's poor and their insurmountable troubles from hunger to disease to the lack of basic dignity in the eyes of the society," believes the musician.

He adds that to change this attitude and to try and make a difference, he approached Rang De. "With Rang De, you do not donate money to help the poor. This is not a charity. Instead, it's an investment. You loan whatever amount of money you can spare, from as little as R100 to the poor, to start small sustainable businesses where they can earn a living and live a life of dignity and respect. The best part is that the loan you give out comes back to you with interest," he reveals.

With the current amount, Dixit will be able to fund the education of nearly 100 young kids from rural India. "The future of this country is in the hands of the youth, and if we empower them with education, there is no doubt that soon we will be able to eradicate poverty from this beautiful nation," he expresses.