Manava Seve Madhava Seva - Why don't you follow this?

Can you imagine Rs.1600 ($32) can serve lunch for approximately 300 children + staff at a school located in a slum area in Kukatpally in Hyderabad. This has other social repercussions too. Serving lunch at school helps to get those little and deprived kids to school and reduces the drop outs.

We spend lots of money to perform poojas to god and also for religious donations. Why do we do this? We pray god for good life to us and for our family ? eventually for salvation ? However I believe for sure the almighty will be more happy and will be more satisfied if we help those poor and orphan kids in India who are deprived of good food, clean water and good sanitary conditions. Don't you accept this argument? Yes we believe cutting across castes, creed, and religions that Manava Seve Madhava Seva. Right?

I have changed my ways for the last 5 years. I make sure for all birthdays of my family including mine (my wife, 2 boys), I donate money to some charity organization. I did a bit more for the last year birthday of mine. I calculated how much would I have spent for my birthday (including clothes, dinner outside etc), and donated the whole amount to Sankara Eye Foundation.

I for one believe that inculating the social service to our kids at young age is very very important. Unlike in Western countries, in India we do not have a practice called "Giving Time". In Western countries, Christmas time is called "Giving Time" and people generously donate money. The donation does not have to be money, it can be in any form, it can be your used clothes, food, your kids' old bikes, books, or some old furniture which you are not using etc.

So think on these lines. Suppose you spend Rs.5000 a year for religious purposes, why don't you siphon off 50% of that for social services? There are many orphan homes in Hyderabad. You can sponsor lunch for a day.

Similarly why don't you encourage your kids to donate a part of their birthday money for social service?

What do you think?