In this season of charity and giving, it is alarming to learn of the less than honourable actions of thousands of charitable organisations. A report in this paper stated the Maharashtra Charity Commission has de-registered as many as 26,168 organisations that failed to submit their audit reports of five years.

Details to be mentioned in the audit report include funds received by the organisations, expenditure, name changes and property owned by them. One fails to understand why the organisations would refuse to provide these details. It is especially important that charity outfits follow the rules to the letter. They operate on one principle - trust and faith. If they fail in their duty, they risk losing the faith of their contributors, supporters and followers. Losing the faith is deadly for these institutions because it is the base on which their edifice of altruism is built. When you chip away at the foundation itself, the entire building is in danger of collapse.