Charity, in the West, mostly comprises in contributing by way of money. Now that's not a passive way of being altruistic. It is a way of life that is true because here people experience and are used to a system that works. Whenever there is a real public need the state machinery sets itself into motion. The primary responder to a state of emergency, whether it be a natural calamity or a human made error, is the state. Individuals need not take upon themselves to be the primary or the only saviours!
However, in most other parts of the world, especially in developing countries, the responsibility of reaching out to someone in difficulty is left to the generosity of the individuals who chance upon that situation. There is no 'system' that responds! Even if the state machinery is made aware of the situation, by the time it gets into action, there will be none to save! And even if it does reach the affected community or individuals, such is the bureaucratic red tape, that everyone involved in the process will become far richer than the one the aid is actually intended for.
The local council here called for volunteers to assist during the pandemic. From the whatsapp group that was created and used for those who signed up in Chertsey alone, I gather there were at least 80 people. And what was the chief task expected? Delivery of shopping, collecting prescriptions and perhaps a courtesy call. Over the last four weeks, there have been a total of 3 requests per day, on an average, sent out by the local coordinator! That makes 18 tasks per week (excluding Sunday - that day being a holiday even for charity!). So 18 people got to do some work for some person in need in a week. That too the quickest responder to the whatsapp request posted. That leaves nearly 60 others for a chance another week - if they're quick enough to respond. Clearly this is an indication that those willing to help outnumber to a great extent those needing help. It is mostly because there are already systems in place which do the needful. Those few and far between cracks or delays are the only gaps that need to be filled in by volunteers.
The systems I talk about are not disaster relief systems that respond to an emergency. These systems are processes that make life easy in normal day-to-day life. I certainly don't believe that all the systems here are totally perfect and that there is no corruption anywhere. But one thing is certain: the system works!
However, in most other parts of the world, especially in developing countries, the responsibility of reaching out to someone in difficulty is left to the generosity of the individuals who chance upon that situation. There is no 'system' that responds! Even if the state machinery is made aware of the situation, by the time it gets into action, there will be none to save! And even if it does reach the affected community or individuals, such is the bureaucratic red tape, that everyone involved in the process will become far richer than the one the aid is actually intended for.
The local council here called for volunteers to assist during the pandemic. From the whatsapp group that was created and used for those who signed up in Chertsey alone, I gather there were at least 80 people. And what was the chief task expected? Delivery of shopping, collecting prescriptions and perhaps a courtesy call. Over the last four weeks, there have been a total of 3 requests per day, on an average, sent out by the local coordinator! That makes 18 tasks per week (excluding Sunday - that day being a holiday even for charity!). So 18 people got to do some work for some person in need in a week. That too the quickest responder to the whatsapp request posted. That leaves nearly 60 others for a chance another week - if they're quick enough to respond. Clearly this is an indication that those willing to help outnumber to a great extent those needing help. It is mostly because there are already systems in place which do the needful. Those few and far between cracks or delays are the only gaps that need to be filled in by volunteers.
The systems I talk about are not disaster relief systems that respond to an emergency. These systems are processes that make life easy in normal day-to-day life. I certainly don't believe that all the systems here are totally perfect and that there is no corruption anywhere. But one thing is certain: the system works!
No comments:
Post a Comment