Introduction
Yojna.org is a zero - cost awareness project
aiming at bringing together foundations, Non - Governmental Organizations (NGOs),
volunteers, government agencies and the public on a common platform regarding various
socio-economic issues. Yojna seeks to bridge the information gap, which has led to
widespread lack of awareness and coordination between different agents in society.
Highlights of the programme
1. Based on the revolutionary concept of an
‘altruistic’ business model.
2. Zero cost
3. Contains Information regarding NGOs,
foundations / trusts and government agencies/ schemes.
4. Brings to the forefront various social
issues
5. Space given for sending petitions to the
concerned authorities.
6. Creates a constantly interacting network
with the NGOs, foundations/ trusts, government agencies and the public as
participants/beneficiaries
7. Facilitates bridging of ‘information
gaps’.
8. Enables accelerated spread of information
9. Self -regenerating mechanism in
functioning
10. Enabling attainment of a greater degree
of social consciousness among the public leading to better resource mobilization both in
human and material terms.
The notion of ‘altruism’
The altruistic model of business has the
concept of service at its very core. ‘Altruism’ focuses on service without
expecting any immediate tangible benefit in return.
Free- flowing two- way linkages are sought to
be firmly established. Any distinction between participants and beneficiaries become
blurred in the long run. Participants become beneficiaries and beneficiaries in turn
become participants in the exercise. The primary beneficiaries in turn render services to
others thus increasing awareness and incorporating them as well into the model. By
initiating a chain reaction the model is geared towards the collective benefit of society
in the long - run.
Note: The government/government agencies
have not been covered in the diagram though they are also an integral part of the
model’s functioning.
The figure explains in a nutshell the concept
of yojna.org in terms of the altruistic business model.
The participants/ beneficiaries comprise of
the foundations/trusts, NGOs, government agencies and the general public. Participants
derive benefits from the operation of yojna.org and beneficiaries are motivated by the
prospect of greater benefits to make further contributions to the exercise. The
foundations/trusts, NGOs and government agencies render assistance by supplying
information to yojna, which enables its functioning. Yojna arranges all the information
systematically and provides participants a window to the activities of the other
participants as well as other organizations within the fold of a particular
‘participant’. For example a foundation can know more about NGOs, government
agencies etc as well as regarding other foundation/trusts.
In the case of the public yojna serves to
improve their awareness of pertinent social issues and the extent of work put in by
various organizations thereby creating a desire in them to contribute more. By converting
the desire into action resource mobilization in frame of both human and material resources
is achieved.
Thus the various participants are motivated
to render further assistance in the working of yojna. Two - way linkages are thereby
established between yojna and the various participants/beneficiaries. Information travels
faster facilitating coordination and self- regenerating virtuous circles are formed.
Note: A Stands
for a Participant/ Beneficiary
Two - way linkages are established
not only between yojna which is at the fulcrum of the structure and the other
participants/ beneficiaries but
also between the others. For example consider yojna and the NGOs. NGOs participate in the
process of making yojna a reality and in return the project offers them information
leading to better awareness and coordination. Here the NGOs are the primary beneficiaries of the operation of the concept of yojna. Now take in to account
the public vis-a-vis the NGOs. NGOs render assistance and improves awareness, which leads
to an improvement in the quality of life of the public. The public in return provides
manpower. Thus another two-way linkage is created
Positive secondary effects are thereby created with
the primary beneficiaries being directly able to aid other primary beneficiaries without
yojna directly coming in to the picture. With increased levels of information faster
decision-making within organizations as well as greater coordination between organizations
within a particular ‘participant’ and different participants is made possible
leading in turn to the collective betterment of society
Zero-cost - A reality
Yojna has made considerable progress at a zero cost
to the formulators as well as to the users. However it is stated in the site that by
clicking on any one of the links a sum of money is donated to a particular cause. Thus a
legitimate question can be asked as to whether the site is cost - free as proclaimed.
The money mentioned is only a virtual concept and
not a real entity. A certain sum has been earmarked by the donor already and this money
divided into several small blocks. A ‘hit’ equivalent to one of the blocks is
registered each time one clicks a particular link. The purpose of this virtual mechanism
is to create a sense of participation and awareness. The intention is to make the surfers
more curious and inquisitive and prompt them to delve deeper in to the subject.
The returns though non-quantifiable will indeed be
greater than the ‘ virtual ‘ cost to the participants. They gain on two fronts-
personal gains as a result of the operations of the different agents as well as the
collective gains accruing to society
Yojna - Blazing a new trail
Yojna has been designed in a flexible manner and
offers infinite potential for evolution. The concept of an ‘altruistic model
transcends yojna. Yojna is merely an offshoot of the idea of
‘altruism’.’Altruism’ with its easy accessibility, flexibility and
low-cost nature is indeed an ideal model for the different agents. By using altruism yojna
through its operations has set a new trail to follow suit.
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