By Roland Francis. Source: Goan Voice Daily Newsletter 25 Aug 2013 at www.goanvoice.org.uk
Made famous by Barrack Obama in his first campaign for President, the meaning of the word which is almost self evident, is described by Wikipedia as the "collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations". While his opponent raised the large sums of money that are required for a presidential election campaign through traditional sources i.e. lobby groups, vested interests, super-rich individuals and corporations, Obama raised even more gigantic amounts largely through very small amounts of money donated directly by a large number of individual Americans all over the country. The benefits are obvious - the greatest being that he is beholden not to his major contributors but to the ordinary people to whom he is responsible anyway. There is a very practical need for the community to take on the freedom that would be afforded by a revenue stream that is always needed for this Goan cause or that. Once well-known tiatrists and musicians now seeing hard days with no money for medical treatment, families already in penury losing the sole breadwinner by an accident, physically or mentally challenged children and students needing better care, food and education funding, legal aid expenses for people in special cases who find themselves in awkward and unjust situations and a host of other crying needs in a country like India that is notorious for slow action and broken government promises. Why depend on people having to part with a hundred dollars or more for each cause on top of the money they already give to local charities? How many people really exist who are willing to part with such amounts even though infrequently and even though it really doesn't hurt their bank? Why not give an opportunity to as many Goans as possible to donate a small amount like five dollars once or twice a month. That's how much it would cost in Toronto for say a couple of coffee cups and a doughnut. It will open a whole world to the Goan Diaspora to participate in doing some good for their own community. Taken one step further, there could be a pre-authorized system of debit where people can commit to giving five or ten dollars a month, every month, for as long as they want to do it that way. There are many challenges to such a worthy venture, trust being paramount. Administrative expenses need to be minimized and sponsored by individuals or small businesses. Volunteers preferably retired but active and committed men and women, whose character is aboveboard need to be recruited on a semi-permanent, ongoing basis. There is much work involved not so much in collecting (that is mostly done on the internet) but also in managing the collections, disbursing it and speedily reporting on an active website. A socially and financially savvy core group that is trusted by the general community in each of the major Diaspora countries needs to identify and administer each funding project some of which may run concurrently. These core groups must liaise and enjoy rapport with each other for quick action. Transparency and continuous openness must be practiced with all projects undertaken so that financial and other information is available to everybody, even those who don't participate, at a click of the mouse. Ideas for more efficiency need to be fostered and both major concerns from constructive individuals as well as frivolous objections from self-important individuals whose words and actions are often frustrating to those putting in earnest efforts, addressed. The work ahead is cut out for us with tantalizing rewards of moral satisfaction at the end of the rainbow. Imagine the whole process one day running like a well-oiled machine that offers succor speedily to those in most need. Imagine us Goans doing something as one body and one soul instead of the constant splitting and bickering that usually takes place. All it takes is for a few good men and women to make it viable and Goan generosity on this micro scale will follow, making small and humble but important impacts to society of which we can all be proud when it happens. ======================================