SMALL is the new BIG...

Image courtesy: http://susdevafrica.net/wp/wp-content/gallery/sda-gallery-1/concept-of-sustainable-development1.png

Come every budget, the Finance Minister(whoever he may be) announces schemes and schemes for development. We are told how things are getting better but more and more investment is required for "upliftment" of the masses. The numbers that we are talking about are staggering - hundreds of thousands of crores, over and over again... And yet very little changes on the ground level. The status quo remains... the chasm between the haves and the have-nots continues to grow and the cycle continues...

And then we were introduced to the "small"... Challenging the wisdom of spending more for betterment to smaller spends that actually make an impact.

Our client Mrida, a social business, works at the "base of the pyramid" and uses energy access, organic farming and impact tourism as a means of holistic rural development.  Mrida launched a campaign called "Think Small" that brought forward the collective wisdom of people in their individual capacity on possible initiatives that can make a dent in the lives of the underprivileged. In simpler terms, using smaller personal/corporate interventions to effect changes at the grassroots level. 

And this amazing work that Mrida has been doing, the changes that they are bringing to the lives of the underprivileged, showcase the wisdom of the "small". The baby steps that they are taking are making a world of difference in the lives of the thousands that they touch. (For those who are interested to know more, please visit: www.mridagroup.com or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mridaassociates/?fref=ts)

And this brings us to another major question: Why must we always look for "doles" from the powers that be? Why must the Government always come to the rescue? There are many examples where the individual/groups/organizations like Mrida have effected changes and I firmly hope that these will really change the world that we live in. 

In our quest for the "big", we overlook the "small". If Dashrath Manjhi had believed that his basic tools of the hammer and chisel were small, would he ever have been able to carve out a path through the hills, shortening the travel distance? Had he waited for the Government to do it for him in the 22 years that he took, he would have waited in vain.  It took an individual, a belief in the concept(also personal tragedy was a great motivator here) and baby steps to make it happen. 

We have been an under-developed nation way too long. We have been asking for doles way too long, we have been waiting for people to do our work way too long: I think the time has come where we start taking responsibility and begin to do our two bit to change the things. Lets stop waiting for personal interest here - We don't need to be personally pained/involved to make a difference - we can choose to not be happy with the existing state of affairs and see what we can do to better what we see around!

I believe that If I as an individual can do a little deed, and there are many many like me, we CAN and WILL change the world.