Appeal for funds- reminding ourselves of guidelines on the subject..

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

Of late we find a lot of postings with " Appeal for funds for this,

that or other Kainkaryams " .

 

It has become our painful duty to bring to the notice of those who

wish to post such appeals to read Paragraph 10 of the Guidelines

(copied below for ready reference):

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" 10. APPEALS FOR FUNDS:

Would anyone venture to appeal for funds for an avowedly unworthy

cause?

 

No appeal for funds is normally made except under the cloak of

some " worthy " cause or other. The money spinning technique of con

artists to beguile the gullible and credulous folks by playing upon

their humanitarian emotions and sympathy have been so perfected that

the pretext of " helping a worthy cause " is routinely touted as a

useful ploy.

 

(For example, a recent appeal was for a medical treatment that was

found to be false). We should not fall for these.

 

The same holds good for the some of the much too numerous appeals

for funds for this, that or the other " Kainkaryams " flashed on the

Internet day in and day out impacting on the sentimental

susceptibilities of Bhaagavatas.

 

Complaints have surfaced, of late, regarding misuse of funds

collected in the name of so called " worthy projects " .

 

This is not to say that all appeals are of this kind.

 

IMPORTANT:

IN FACT, APPEALS BEARING THE SPECIFIC OFFICIAL SPONSORING BY THE

YATIVARAS THEMSELVES OF MATAMS AND ASHRAMAMS (LIKE AHOBILA MATAM,

PARAKLAALA MATAM, POUNDARIKAPURAM ASHRAMAM, PERIYASHRAMAM,

VANAMAMALAI MATAM ETC) CAN BE FREELY POSTED.

 

All other appeals solicited by individuals or groups of individuals

for funds for whatever " kainkaryam " will be allowed only with the

express undertaking IN WRITING that the solicitor ensures the

following:

 

(i) Officially acknowledging the receipt of contributions submitted

(ii) Utilization of the funds fully and precisely for the purposes

for which they are proposed to be mobilized through their appeal and

(iii) Adequate audit and accounting are in place to the entire

satisfaction of the donors both at the collection end and

utilization end

(iv) Responsibility to personally indemnify the donors against any

inconvenience or loss due to any irregularity that might come to

light at any time, with regard to their solicitation.

 

In the absence of such undertaking, we may be seen as encouraging

indiscriminate fund-raising appeals and also become liable for any

potential legal action later on,

given the conduct of numerous trusts that have mushroomed and

disappeared with the collections "

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This applies to even the Moderator and Co-moderator and to our

members of Board of Advisory Consultants.

 

We will have to reject appeals if the appeal does not indicate any

personal / official involvement / sanction of Yathivaras or contain

any of the " Commitments " required from sponsors in terms of

Paragraph 10 cited above on " Appeal for funds " .

 

If anyone wishes to donate any funds for any kainkaryam, they can do

it from out of their personal funds or through private collections

or through other Internet groups that may allow such appeals .

 

We wish to reiterate that " Sri Ranga Sri " IS NOT the forum for such

appeals that do not conform to Paragraph 10 cited. Besides annoying

the readers, this also places us in an embarrassing situation. We

request them to understand and cooperate with us and save us from

such accusations.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy