Source: http://sathya-sai0.tripod.com/unique/unique.htm

AFTERNOON DESPATCH & COURIER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2002

Unique philanthropy!

A voluntary charitable trust ropes in professional & to carry out social awareness projects

BY A STAFF REPORTER

The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation of Mumbai has embarked upon an innovative exercise to. rope in professional involvement in philanthropy. Through a series of soul-searching seminars, this voluntary charitable trust seeks the active support of professionals like doctors, lawyers 1. and .accountants in carrying out their social awareness projects.

But do professionals reciprocate? Mr. Nimish Pandya, well-known lawyer and district president of the organisation remarks, "The response is overwhelming. We flagged-off the value-based seminar series with doctors. Ever since, we had leading city doctors from well-known hospitals lending their expertise for our medical projects totally free of cost. All doctors, who had participated in the seminar, are believed to have spoken candidly about the malpractices of the trade and the ways to counter them."

Just recently, the trust organised its second seminar for Chartered Accountants (CAs). The theme was on how CAs, who are busy valuing assets of companies and firms, can play a vital role in valuing the balance sheet of life and humanity.   

The seminar was attended by leading names in the finance jndustry, members of the CA Institute besides minister of state for finance, Mr. Jayant Patil. "It was heartening to note their active involvement despite their hectic schedules," says Mr. Rajeev Nambiar, a member of the Sai Seva organisation. The seminar was followed by a panel discussion later thrown open to public questions. "Rampant financial scams all over the world have raised eyebrows about- our integrity. Through this exercise in self-audit, we hope to reinstate public confidence in our role as financial watchdogs by emphasising on the good use of money" said a leading char­tered accountant who participated in the seminar.      

This free-membership trust runs spiritual and educational projects all over-Maharashtra, and has 15 samitis spread across Murnbai. The education wing of the trust conducts non-formal education for school and col­lege students. Over 30 Mumbai schools have been adopted under- its human values programme. The trust is known for its free medical services under which six villages in the state and seven slum colonies in the city have been adopted. The trust is also in the process of setting up an unique project in Aksa village, that will seek to educate rural youth on scientific technology.