He brings hot meals to India's homeless

Narayanan Krishnan, all of 29 years old now, does what he was professionally trained to do as a chef. Feed people. Only Krishnan does not do this in the swanky confines of a 5-star hotel. Every day, he wakes up at 4 am, cooks a simple hot meal and then, along with his team, loads it in a van and travels about 200 km feeding the homeless in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Krishnan feeds, often with his hands, almost 400 destitute people every day. And for those who need it, he provides a free haircut too. 

Eight years ago, this award-winning chef with a five-star hotel chain was all set to go to Switzerland for a high-profile posting. On a visit to a Madurai temple, he came across a homeless, old man eating his own human waste. That stark sight changed Krishnan's life.  

Much to the dismay of his parents, Krishnan abandoned his career plans and decided to spend his life and his professional training in looking after those who could not care for themselves. He has provided more than 1.2 million hot meals through his nonprofit organization Akshaya Trust, and now hopes to extend this to shelter for the homeless too.

Akshaya Trust needs all the monetary support it can get to build on Krishnan's dream. Let's help him get there.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY - WHAT TATA DID TO MUMBAI VICTIMS?‏

LET THE WORLD KNOW WHAT IS "CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY"?

A.           The Tata Gesture for Victims who suffered during Hotel Taj Terroist Attack

               1.    All category of employees including those who had completed even 1 day as casuals were treated on duty during the time the hotel was closed.

               2. Relief and assistance to all those who were injured and killed

               3. The relief and assistance was extended to all those who died at the railway station, surroundings including the “Pav- Bha ji” vendor and the pan shop owners.

               4. During the time the hotel was closed, the salaries were sent by money order.

               5. A psychiatric cell was established in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences to counsel those who needed such help.

               6. The thoughts and anxieties going on people’s mind was constantly tracked and where needed psychological help provided.

               7. Employee outreach centers were opened where all help, food, water, sanitation, first aid and counseling was provided. 1600 employees were covered by this facility.

               8. Every employee was assigned to one mentor and it was that person’s responsibility to act as a “single window” clearance for any help that the person required.

               9. Ratan Tata personally visited the families of all the 80 employees who in some manner – either through injury or getting killed – were affected.

              10. The dependents of the employees were flown from outside Mumbai to Mumbai and taken care off in terms of ensuring mental assurance and peace. They were all accommodated in Hotel President for 3 weeks.

              11. Ratan Tata himself asked the families and dependents – as to what they wanted him to do.

              12. In a record time of 20 days, a new trust was created by the Tatas for the purpose of relief of employees.

              13. What is unique is that even the other people, the railway employees, the police staff, the pedestrians who had nothing to do with Tatas were covered by compensation. Each one of them was provided subsistence allowance of Rs. 10K per month for all these people for 6 months.

              14. A 4 year old granddaughter of a vendor got 4 bullets in her and only one was removed in the Government hospital. She was taken to Bombay hospital and several lacs were spent by the Tatas on her to fully recover her.

              15. New hand carts were provided to several vendors who lost their carts.

              16. Tata will take responsibility of life education of 46 children of the victims of the terror.

              17. This was the most trying period in the life of the organisation. Senior managers including Ratan Tata were visiting funeral to funeral over the 3 days that were most horrible.

              18. The settlement for every deceased member ranged from Rs. 36 to 85 lacs [One lakh rupees tranlates to approx 2200 US $ ] in addition to the following benefits:

            a. Full last salary for life for the family and dependents;
            
            b. Complete responsibility of education of children and dependents – anywhere in the world.                   

            c. Full Medical facility for the whole family and dependents for rest of their life.            

            d. All loans and advances were waived off – irrespective of the amount.            

            e. Counselor for life for each person      

    
B.        Epilogue

How was such passion created among the employees? How and why did they behave the way they did?

The organisation is clear that it is not something that someone can take credit for. It is not some training and development that created such behaviour. If someone suggests that – everyone laughs.

It has to do with the DNA of the organisation, with the way Tata culture exists and above all with the situation that prevailed that time. The organization has always been telling that customers and guests are #1 priority.

The hotel business was started by Jamshedji Tata when he was insulted in one of the British hotels and not allowed to stay there.

He created several institutions which later became icons of progress, culture and modernity. IISc is one such institute. He was told by the rulers that time that he can acquire land for IISc to the extent he could fence the same. He could afford fencing only 400 acres.

When the HR function hesitatingly made a very rich proposal to Ratan – he said – do you think we are doing enough?

The whole approach was that the organisation would spend several hundred crore in re-building the property – why not spend equally on the employees who gave their life?

Self Appraisal

A little boy went to a Telephone booth which was at the cash counter of a store & dialed a number.

The store-Owner observed and listened to the Conversation:

Boy: "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?

Woman: (at the other end of the phone line) "I already have someone to cut my lawn."

Boy: "Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price than the person who cuts your lawn now."

Woman: I'm very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.

Boy: (with more perseverance) "Lady, I'll even sweep the floor & the stairs of your house for free.

Woman: No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy end call with thank you.

The Store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: "Son...I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit & would like to offer you a job."

Boy: "No thanks,

Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.

Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the job I already have.

I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!"

This is called "Self Appraisal"