More money matters: Ramesh Shah ... the new Mr 2%?

Apparently, the Government of India has recently established a "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) law" which mandates companies whose turnover is more than 500 crores rupees to spend 2% of their profits on Social Activities

These socially beneficial activities must be done in conjunction with an NGO.

1 crore is 10,000,000. 500 crore rupees equates to approximately USD 76,500,000.

It is estimated that the new law will directly impact at least 2,500 companies and generate an estimated US $2 billion in CSR spending. The BKs' financial radar is bleeping like mad.

Funny for a religion whose god told them not to accept donations from individuals who were not following their principles because such money would be impure ... guess who was on the case and briefing BKs on how to tap into the new revenue stream at the luxurious air conditioned SpARC offices? Mr 2% ... the "accountant of god" and controversial trustee and chairperson BK Ramesh Shah.

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The Brahma Kumaris now aim to partner with different companies and organizations in order to fill their coffers to do ... just what? More big buildings and more big silliness?

Part of the burgeoning alphabet soup of acronyms and grand sounding titles, the Brahma Kumaris SpARC organization is considered with some suspicion by certain senior members of the BKWSU, seen as one of the many virtual empires within the Greater Brahma Kumari Co-Prosperity Movement as a whole. We've had previous reports in the past of younger BKs being warned away from it. Just why, I do not know. It has a new swanky website. It's only completely "final project" to date is a rather pedestrian BK daily journal or "chart".

Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (PBKIVV) and its Sister organization Rajayoga Education & Research Foundation (RERF) have been serving society at all levels through its various wings ... The Spiritual Applications Research Centre (SpARC) was formed in 1995 as an internal research group that would dedicate itself in exploring and experimenting with applications of the spiritual knowledge of this institution towards the cause of world service. SpARC focused on projects that experimented with practical applications of Rajayoga in daily life. In addition, Special Interest Groups were formed that explored diverse topics, ranging from the Nature of Time and Space, to Values in Business.

CSR activities recognised under the Bill include:

Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty;
Promotion of education;
Promoting gender equality and empowering women;
Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health;
Combating HIV, AIDS, Malaria and other diseases;
Ensuring environmental sustainability; Imparting employment enhancing vocational skills;
Social business projects; and
Contribution to certain funds.

Let's keep an eye out on how the BKs aim to bend the rules, and their aims and objectives, to fit.

Apparently, the Government of India has recently established a "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) law" which mandates companies whose turnover is more than 500 crores rupees to spend 2% of their profits on Social Activities

This sounds like a government abdicating its responsibilities - they'd already have tax deductibility for charitable donations surely? Or they're purposely creating money-laundering loopholes for their cronies. Watch the number of nominal "Social Activity" organisations spring up !!

What I'd like to watch for are the budgets the BKs propose.

What attached overheads do they have, apart from lentils and chapattis?

Are they, for example, going to charge out their centres and unpaid female laborers' time to the corporations?

In theory, the BKs could and should pass all benefits on to the intended recipients ... but will they? Or will some/all of the money go into their coffers as "costs"? Will the BKWSU become the recipient of the corporate charity? Will they just use it to earn a buck providing back BK indoctrination to underprivileged workers of said corporations?

To be honest, even if the BKWSU was to turn volte face and start doing genuine charity, I'd loath to think they were getting away with using corporate money to pay for their PR (public relations) campaign ... being seen to do good.

If the BKs could set a corruption free example and ensure that 100% of benefit went to the intended recipients and took none for themselves, it would be a good thing. But if all they are thinking of if taking a slice for themselves, or using the charity giving to push their religion, then I would be disgusted.

It's a shame no Western BKs were bothered about the ethics of the religion enough to observe and report on such ventures, seriously and analytically, rather just exploiting it for marketing and PR value.

I am cynical about their intentions and do not find them "pure" at all. 99 times of 100, they operating with some ulterior motive in my book and ensuring cash injections, the acquisition of land and properties is high on the list.

All we can do is watch.

What do they claim to do? Stuff like anti-drink and anti-smoking drives in poor rural areas etc? How? by pushing their religion as a solution. If that a fix for the real problems and deprivation of the rural poor in India ... further indentured servitude to the high caste Brahmins of the BKWSU?