In the business of doing good
Mr Rajiv Mehta from Mumbai is from a breed of businessmen who believe in taking forward the family values of doing good. This was the credo of his family, and Rajiv has taken to it with passion and verve. From a business family spanning three generations, his father envisaged digging deep into social issues along with running his business and registered Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust in 1967 with the motive to do good. He started it but, unfortunately, passed away before much could be done. Rajiv wanted to turn his dream into reality and took it forward.
Rajiv’s biggest challenge was keeping the NGO floating, as they lacked funds. He had just enough to pay seven staff members for six months, so he soon started getting in touch with donors to provide support. The response was overwhelming. The NGO believes in the use of technology for philanthropy. Rajiv’s decision to introduce technology in the NGO has enabled cost reduction, better MIS, and prediction mechanisms based on data analytics. Today, the NGO stands strong with 33 professional staff working on 15 different programmes.
Rajiv’s other challenge was to run this charity with a business-like approach balanced with sincerity, honesty, commitment, and discipline. As he was new to the social sector, the NGO’s activities were initially limited to education and hunger. It was critical, therefore, to develop current projects into sustainable ones, grow, expand, and get respect. Today, the NGO is in the process of impacting the lives of the underprivileged through its projects in various areas. This activity keeps growing more and more, with many people thanking them all the time.
NGOs doing good work also partner with others, and this is also something they have done for good effect, as people trust Rajiv for both his efficiency and integrity. The NGO has donated over 5000 spectacles in partnership with Essilor Vision Foundation and has also partnered with Akshay Patra to set up 15,000 libraries across 14 states, with a donation of one million books by Ratna Nidhi, for educating young India. His dream is to educate all, without their financial conditions being a deterrent.
With such professionalism and verve, Rajiv shall certainly achieve all his dreams.