The topic may be slightly confusing for most people. These are the people who think that India is not developed because we don’t have money. But that is not even 10 percent of the truth. The truth is that Indians are becoming less civil, less tolerant, less kind-hearted, more corrupt and more money minded. With people like these one can hardly expect development to take place. The sad part is that the good things have to start from the people at the top and these are normally people with money. Instead of making positive changes here and there since they can afford to live without earning an extra buck through unfair means they seem to be taking more and more not knowing what to do with their surplus. There are hundreds of negative things that one can talk about these days about our society. Discussion in any social gathering revolves around such topics. While appreciating all the difficulties and possibilities, my wife and I started the TSIC (Thaneswar Sarma Institute for Change)
which is charitable trust in memory of my father who served Assam as a rural development officer in various capacities. Earlier I had joined hands with some friends to start another NGO called Economic Development Initiative (EDI) and Eastern Himalayan Society (EHSoc). The latter was supposed to provide micro credit and the former to initiate for all–round development of the society roping in the well-established friend circle, old school friends etc. EDI is almost at a standstill after moving into fishery project in Hajo. EHSoc is surviving only because I have taken it as a personal challenge to make it successful.Seeing the way things work here, I decided to start an organization so that I could do things my way. Also, I have seen that people normally set up a trust when they have reached the end of their career and when they no see that their money has no value for them. Giving away funds when one has the need is what is more meaningful. TSIC was the result all this discussion I had with my wife. Since the trust belongs to my family I have been able to initiate steps which, in my view, have important ramifications. By the way, my daughter also enjoys spending time at TSIC. The initial funding of the trust came from a personal loan from a friend of mine in the US, an NRI.
My family has a flat behind St. May’s High School, Guwahati Club. This was given on rent to a private computer institute. We used to earn Rs 9000/- per month. Once we decided to set up the trust, this flat was utilized for the purpose. We bought a computer, collected books, magazines, journals etc andset up a library too. Today, we have two computers with printers, chairs and tables for holding small discussions, conferences and other paraphernalia needed. There are four people working for the trust. Two of them earn part of their salary from running the micro credit activities of EHSoc, which is housed in TSIC. EHSoc pays 10% on deposits and charges 20% on loans. Demand for small loan is endless.
Under TSIC, training was conducted for some ten groups of NGO workers in cooperation with Ecosystems India, a trust set up by Nandita Hazarika, Gautom Narayan and Manzul Hazarika of AIT. Smaller programs are being held on and off. When Tehelka.com chief Tarun Tejpal wanted to visit Assam, it was TSIC which gave him the platform. There is some advantage in starting an independent trust.
One major activity of TSIC is in developing the fishermen of Hajo area. NEDFi and EDI are also active in Hajo. Another organization called ACRD was also roped in. Hajo is famous for its local fish production. Unfortunately the government department office has been closed there for some years now. Seeing the potential we moved in. The place is coming up very quickly. Soon a sale counter for Hajo fish will be set up where one will be able to get local fish at a fixed price which will be much below the market price as there will be no middlemen.
Through the micro credit activities both from Ehsoc and TSIC, we have been able to help more than seventyfamilies. More than 250 members have opened saving accounts. This is one venture having an excellent scope, both for the growth of the organization and for the development of the people. But much more funds is required than what is being revolved presently. There are quite a few borrowers who have been coming to TSIC everyday looking for some small amounts. The collection that we are able to generate is only about five hundred everyday, and about 15 thousand pr month. We plan to borrow some funds at personal level to put in the society. A few of our loans at Hajo have made a tremendous difference to the individual as well as the society.
In order to earn some income for the trust, a tea packaging and selling activity has been taken up. Tea will be procured from the producers in small amounts and packaged and sold in the rural areas. The women members of EHSoc will do the packaging activity for a fee. Markets will be the Self Help Group members. Once again, there is need of funds.
TSIC also plans to start a new scheme under which poor families can be given loans for pressure cooker which saves on firewood and also time; gas connections and stove which is again a time saver an environment friendly device and for low cost sanitary latrines. The loans are normally for Rs 500/-, Rs 2500/- and Rs 4000/- respectively.
There are many small things, which can be done without money too. In Hajo, there aremany fish farmers who have the wherewithal to have better standards of living. But they are not aware. We have gone there and interacted with them, telling them how important it is to have a sanitary latrine, a good bathroom, gas connection for cooking instead of firewood, separate room for guest instead of making the guests sit and sleep in their bedrooms, etc. Things are slowly changing, especially when they find that wellmeaning self less people from the city are visiting them regularly. They are also influenced by their visits to our home.
In some cases, it is the information about the various schemes available in the financial institutions and government departments that help the visitors to TSIC and the people we meet during our field visits. In other cases it is the combination of advice and very small loans that can make a difference. In the handloom sector we have reduced a lot of burden and saved a lot of time for the weavers by giving loan for a ‘drum’, which cost about Rs 8000/-. For a tea stall we purchased corrugated sheets, plastic chairs and a gas stove. The owner who started his business with Rs 70/- a couple of years back is earning about Rs 1000/- a day. Some poor families have been distributed ducklings so that they can supplement their income in a small way.
Anyway, TSIC is a very modest beginning. The few steps we have been able to take are tiny indeed. But with some assistance from friends and well-wishers we shouldbe able to bring about a lot of change where it is needed. As Joseph Schumpeter remarked to Peter Drucker’s father in so many words: one is now old enough to realize that all theseawards, articles, publications don’t mean much. One hasn’t made a difference if the difference is not in the lives of the people around.
- Contributed by Dr Amiya Sharma. Dr Sharma received his Ph.D. in Economics from Rutgers University in New Jersey and is an economist at NEDFi, Guwahati, Assam.
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