By Katie Kenney
PUNE (India): In her inaugural address at the CSR-Nonprofit Summit, Ms Vandana Krishna, I.A.S., Principal Secretary for Women and Child Development in Maharashtra, underscored the importance of partnership in furthering rural development efforts throughout India. According to Krishna, commitment is paramount to the formation of such partnerships between government projects, nonprofit organizations, and corporations.
“If you’re there to give,” Krishna directed to corporations, “you have to be ready for a long-term commitment.”
Krishna also advised corporations to consider the root causes of the issues they choose to address.
“It is better to teach someone how to fish than to give them fish,” she says. “Ask, does it really change that person? Does it really empower that person? Does it really promote sustainable development?”
In her address, Ms. Krishna also highlighted examples of successful partnerships in government development projects. In Mahrashtra’s new SAHLA initiative, for example, the government is inviting nonprofits to partner with them in administering ten-day training programs for adolescent girls.
In another example, Krishna cited the role of private medical colleges in providing specialist services at government Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities.
Krishna also invited both nonprofits and corporations to consider partnering with government projects through adopting villages, talukas, or various women’s and children’s homes.
“We are happy and willing and open to work in partnership with all of you,” Krishna concluded. “We hope that something really wonderful happens in these coming months and years.”
