Social Responsibility and You

Vinay Somani of Karmayog.org lists some easy everyday examples of Social Responsibility and why we should all be engaged in such initiatives

Vinay Somani of Karmayog.org lists some easy everyday examples of Social Responsibility and why we should all be engaged in such initiatives

WHEN we think of our roles and responsibilities, we often think and work towards the big and larger roles as the head of a business, as the CEO of a company, as a community leader, or a religious leader, or the head of a professional body, or even our role as a leading professional.u00a0u00a0u00a0
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We rarely think of the small roles and how we can excel in these: of being a good family member, a good friend, a great neighbour, a good member of your housing society, or just a good citizen.

No one seems bothered about these roles any more, it is not considered admirable to be any of these, no one will look up to you for fulfilling these roles in fact most people are either forgetting or giving up these roles entirely. But these are the roles that are the most important ones to fulfill as it is upon these roles that the bedrock of society rests.

Each one of us, in the various spheres that we are in, must start some activity that benefits others. The actions that are taken through such steps may appear trivial or small, but are actually of great importance to the vast majority of people. Everyone needs something around which their own actions and deeds can evolve; hence it is important that each one of us gets started today.

Schools & Colleges
>>Getting alumni to institute scholarships & prizes
>>Offering space for training/ classes/ sports, etc
>>Adopting a local garden
>>Encourage volunteering amongst students and faculty for topical causes

Housing Societies
>>Suggesting solutions for local problems to government and mediau00a0
>>Maintaining nearby public spaces, including footpaths (Saaf Aangan concept)
>>Offering space in society (garage, etc) for use for training/ classes. etc and as a material collection centre

Shops (eg: Chemists)
>>Awareness posters of symptoms of different diseases
>>Collecting & donating old medicines to charitable hospitals
>>Offering discounted medicines for poor patientsu00a0

Private Hospitals
>>Creating a Patients' Information Centre & Library
>>Encouraging citizens to help accident victims by taking care of legal aspects of accidents/ emergency cases
>>Displaying a "Patients and Doctors Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" in the hospital premises

Movie Theatre/ Multiplex/ Malls
>>Screening of NGO films
>>Screening special shows for underprivileged groups
>>Offering table space for NGOs
>>Adopting a nearby garden/ open space and maintaining it

Petrol Pumps
>>Checking and offering tips to vehicle users
>>Ensuring that PUC certificates are valid
>>Promoting accident awareness and pedestrian safety

Hotels and Restaurants
>>Donating excess food responsibly to NGOs/ citizens
>>Composting of organic waste

Media (TV, print, radio)
>>Show-casing profiles and achievements of NGOs/ citizens
>>Spreading social service messages along with advertisements
>>Dedicating a slot for social and developmental issues, and for citizens' dialogue/ feedback

Often, our reactions to incidents in our lives result in negative or angry thoughts about the situation and our helplessness. The recent mumbai terror attacks is such an example, where the angry reactions kept people charged and fired for some time, and also achieved some quick initial results during this period. But constructive thoughts and actions are more sustaining, as these are like building blocks, upon which much more can be built.

Every person needs a starting point; hence once you start doing such an activity that benefits society, this enables other peoples' thoughts, ideas and actions to crystallise and build around that. So even if you are only one shop that does not use plastic or one office that recycles all its dry waste, this can help to start off a series of similar actions and initiatives around you.

Do email suggestions and actual examples of good initiatives to info@karmayog.org This will be compiled to make a list of activities and initiatives that can be replicated across India.