Asia Buzz: The Culture of Giving
MUMBAI, 5 October 2015 – Focus on the receiver’s dignity rather than the donor’s pride. This was the message that Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj, Asia 21 Young Leader and recipient of the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay award, strove to impart as he spoke in Mumbai. Known as the Clothing Man, Gupta founded Goonj in 1998 with a mission to make clothing a matter of concern and to bring it among the list of subjects for the development sector.
As responsible citizens of this country, Gupta asked us to consider if we as a society have accepted the status quo in such a way that we never question or raise our voice; if we have become comfortable in our indifference. “We all sing songs of CSR and NGOs giving back, but all of us sitting here are the product of subsidy.” Though it might feel frustrating, the solution, Gupta offers, is that we need to change our perception to go beyond charity, beyond just giving money. Just one piece of cloth can change our perception and the way we speak about another person.
Realizing that clothing as a basic human right and a necessity is often overlooked, Gupta decided to bring cloth into the discourse by repositioning it as a development resource instead of a traditional charitable item. He doesn’t want people to “donate” cloth, because second-hand cloth is a “discard”. Size, shape, culture, geography - these are all issues which Goonj faces in the process of redistributing cloth. For instance, Goonj receives many Western clothing or salwar kameez from urban areas, while the majority of those in rural areas still wear the traditional saree, blouse, petticoat. However, as long as it is clean and re-useable, no material is wasted, and the fabric is re-purposed into items such as school bags and mattresses.
Under the “Cloth for Work” initiative, clothes are given as an incentive after participating in village infrastructure development activities or successful behavioral change. The “Not Just A Piece of Cloth” initiative turns waste cotton cloth into sanitary napkins for women who otherwise can’t afford commercial brands. 88% of Indian women don’t have access to sanitary napkins; the alternatives that are being used, such as ash and dry leaves, are a huge factor in causing infections and even death. He stresses that the pads are not a product, but a tool to spread awareness on health and hygiene among rural women.
Gupta’s goal is for Goonj to grow as an idea, rather than as an organization, encouraging more and more people to replicate the work that he is doing in their own capacities and communities. Inspiring one and all to step up and take part in the process, he shared ‘Mujhe maloom hai ke andhera hai, roshni ki koshish karne do’ (‘I know that there is darkness, let me try to find the light’).
Video: Watch the complete program (1 hr., 25 min.)
Reported by Pinki Thakker, Programme Assistant, Asia Society India Centre