A joint survey published by Amsterdam University and Bangalore Institute in 2013 suggested that the breakdown of funds donated by Non-resident Indians to activities in India comprised mostly of donations to religious activities. But in the last five years, the trend has changed and more funds are going towards health and education services in India.
Many small towns in Gujarat have received considerable donations from Gujaratis living in USA, UK, Australia, Europe or African countries. Many organisations have been established solely from donations received from NRGs. The fund for its ongoing activity and maintenance also comes from abroad.
In Gujarat’s city of Anand, a group of seven NRIs’ and few locals have established a trust which provides hygienically cooked lunches to more than 700 families. People on low income, families dealing with chronic or terminal illness of a family member benefit from this service. Some NRIs visiting India also take the opportunity to enjoy the home cooked taste of the tiffin service.
Since last seven years, volunteers have home delivered freshly made delicious food for a token amount of Rs2.00 (less than 10 cents) which includes the delivery cost.
Tiffin service in Anand supported by Non resident Gujaratis Source: Amit Mehta
People like Mahendra Patel known as the Lemon king, Ramesh Patel, Bharat shahShahsmukh Karia, Bharat Talati volunteer money, time and effort to keep this service going throughout the year , rain or shine. Group has established a trust to manage the finances involved in this tiffin service.
Delivering more than 700 tiffins, 365 days a year costs them Rs7000 per day which includes groceries, cooking and delivery. And all of the funds come from non-resident Gujaratis. The donors who wish to remain anonymous come from Australia, UK, USA, New Zealand, Lusaka, Thailand, Poland, the list goes on.
Daily menu includes four main things of a Gujarati meal – Rotli (bread), daal (curry), bhaat (rice) and shaak (vegetables).
Local Muslim volunteer Nannumiya started donating all of the fresh vegetables needed for all 700 tiffins. After his deaths, his sons have continued to support this service. Another family donates the flour needed for all the rotis around the year. A family from Lusaka now settled abroad provides cooking oil, which comes from a local shop and paid in dollars by the NRG family.
Tiffin Service in Anand supported by Non resident Gujaratis Source: Amit Mehta
Farsan and sweets added to the meal are provided by local shops at a special discounted rate for the tiffin service.
Another free tiffin service funded by US-based Shailesh Patel of Tarapur village recently started catering to the patients at local hospitals in Nar.
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NRGs fund and support health and education services in Gujarat.(Part-2)
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