Friday, 7 June 2013

[www.keralites.net] Humor: The Doctor

 

The patient
was seen
running
down the hall of the hospital just before his operation.

"What's the matter?"
someone asked him.


He said, "I heard the nurse say, 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right."

"She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?"

"She was talking to the doctor.
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[www.keralites.net] Philanthropy - The Act of Donation

 

Philanthropy is the act of donating. Any donation is considered philanthropy, whether it is money, property, or services. The amount donated does not matter; the act of giving any amount is considered to be philanthropy, whether it is one dollar placed directly into the hands of someone in need or a million dollars donated to a nonprofit organization. Philanthropy can be practiced by corporations and institutions, but the word is more commonly associated with an individual or a family.

A philanthropist is a person who practices philanthropy. The term is usually used to describe those that donate large sums of money, such as millions of dollars (USD). People who donate smaller sums of money are just as important, and are often sacrificing more of their disposable income than a rich person that donates a larger amount. People who donate smaller amounts of money, however, are not nearly as visible to others, and so are not usually given the title.

As previously mentioned, philanthropy can be done through the donation of money, property, or services. Each of these areas is important, and does a great deal to help others. A few examples of each are as follows:

 
Money. Money can be donated directly to those in need by handing it to them, or it can be given to charities and other organizations to distribute. Many philanthropic people donate a specific percentage of their income, called a tithe. Some people choose to donate financial assets rather than money, such as donating stock certificates to a favorite university. Some philanthropists choose to give their money away when they die, putting instructions into their will as to which charitable organizations or people it should go to.

 
Property. Property can be donated just like money, though not quite as easily. Not every person needs every item, and not every charity can handle every property donation. Both new and used articles of clothing are usually accepted by most charities. Other common items like strollers and electronics can be donated to charity stores, also called thrift shops. Canned or prepackaged food can be donated to soup kitchens, some shelters, and other charity centers; large amounts of unpackaged food that come directly from businesses can also be donated. Finally, special charities and the offices of larger charities have been set up to receive gifts of large property, such as automobiles and real estate.

 
Services. Sometimes, people need assistance. One human being offering their time and skills to another is an example of this sort of donation. Some people donate their time by working in soup kitchens or delivering meals. Others visit people in nursing homes so that they will have company. Those with specialized knowledge can donate their skills in many different ways, such as being legal representatives for those with little money or tutoring children in need. Simple acts such as mowing another person's lawn or repairing someone else's broken stairs are both examples of benevolent actions involving service.

 
Self. One of the most benevolent acts a person can do is donate a part of themselves to another, though this philanthropic act is often overlooked. For instance, blood donations are needed constantly in order to save people's lives, and can be done at local blood banks. Potential bone marrow donors need to register so that they can be matched if someone needs a transplant to live. A healthy person can donate one of their kidneys to another and still survive, though they may have complications later in life. Even in death, organs can be harvested from a donor and transplanted into those that need them, directly saving lives. Donations of one's self are some of the most altruistic and philanthropic possible, and directly alter the lives of others.

 
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[www.keralites.net] Ratan Tata's Loyalty to Employees. We Salute You Mr. Tata

 

 

 
Meeting with H N Srinivas – Senior Executive Vice President, Taj Group of Hotels
 
Last evening, I had a dinner meeting with HNS in Goa (I was there for a National Institute of Personnel Management conference – as a speaker).
He narrated the 26th November 2008 terror attack on Taj Mumbai and there were some important points.
A. Terrorist entry
 
1. They entered from the Leopold Colaba hotel entrance and also from the northern entrance – spraying indiscriminate bullets on the Taj security personnel and guests in general.
2. Though Taj had a reasonable security – they were surely not equipped to deal with terrorists who were spraying 6 bullets per trigger.
3. The strategy of the terrorists was to throw chunks of RDX in an open area that will explode and burn – creating chaos so that the guests and staff run helter skelter so that the terrorists could kill them. The idea was to create maximum casualties.
4. There were several critical gatherings and functions happening in the hotel on that day – a Bohra wedding, global meet of Unilever CEOs and Board members and 2 other corporate meetings were being held in the hotel – besides the usual crowd.
5. The firing and chaos began at about 8.30 p.m. and the staff including employees on casual and contract basis displayed exemplary presence of mind, courage and sacrifice to protect the guests who were in various halls and conference rooms.
 
B. Stories of Staff Heroics
 
1. A young lady guest relation executive with the HLL gathering stopped any of the members going out and volunteered 3 times to go out and get stuff such as ice cubes for whiskey of the guests when the situation outside the hall was very explosives and she could have been easily the target of the bullets
2. Thomas George a captain escorted 54 guests from a backdoor staircase and when he was going down last he was shot by the terrorists
3. There were 500 emails from various guests narrating heroics of the staff and thanking them for saving their lives
4. In a subsequent function, Ratan Tata broke down in full public view and sobbed saying – "the company belongs to these people". The wife of Thomas George who laid his life saving others said, she and the kids were proud of the man and that she did not know that for 25 years she lived with a man who was so courageous and brave
5. The episode happened on 26th November, a significant part of the hotel was burnt down and destroyed – the hotel was re-opened on 21st December and all the employees of the hotel were paraded in front of the guests
6. It was clearly a saga of extra-ordinary heroics by ordinary people for their organisation and in a way for their country. The sense of duty and service was unprecedented
7. The young lady who protected and looked after the HLL guests was a management trainee and we often speak of juniority and seniority in the organisation. She had no instructions from any supervisor to do what she did
a. She took just 3 minutes to rescue the entire team through the kitchen
b. Cars were organised outside the hotel as per seniority of the members
c. In the peak of the crisis, she stepped out and got the right wine glass for the guest
8. People who exhibited courage included janitors, waiters, directors, artisans and captains – all level of people
 
C. The Tata Gesture
 
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-Bhaji" vendor and the pan shop owners
4. During the time the hotel was closed, the salaries were sent my 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 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
 
D. Epilogue
 
1. How was such passion created among the employees? How and why did they behave the way they did?
2. 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
3. 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 organisation has always been telling that customers and guests are #1 priority
4. The hotel business was started by Jamshedji Tata when he was insulted in one of the British hotels and not allowed to stay there.
5. 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.
6. When the HR function hesitatingly made a very rich proposal to Ratan – he said – do you think we are doing enough?
7. 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?
 
 
We Salute You Mr. Tata
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Re: [www.keralites.net] Make democracy more beneficial to the country

 

Mr. Bala. p.l,   Very well said sir!,
 
Indian National Congress (I) is a party of scam, fraud, corruption & anti public, I fail to understand why Mr. Menon is advocating a party which has ruin the country and create so many National & International problem before the country. It is the worst & shameless party of India.  Mr. menon seems to be the member of INC(I)
 
Ln. P.K. Agrawal
 


--- On Thu, 6/6/13, Bala p.l <plbala52@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Bala p.l <plbala52@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [www.keralites.net] Make democracy more beneficial to the country
To: "Keralites@yahoogroups.com" <Keralites@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2013, 9:37 AM

 
Mr. ICS menon,
there was a msg almost identical to yours projecting the Indian National Congress and branding BJP as communal.and calling to give a  clear majority to the so called Indian national Congress which according to you is the national party some time back from this keralaites group . You have further said that those who oppose congress in the election on winning support the congress. Is it not a defection. No it is breach of contract and faith the people reposed on our leaders, How about parties electing their leaders to Rajya saba who have lost in the Loka saba elections. Dont you think sir this is worst than defection. 
I have the following for you to ponder please.
a) The Indian national congress that stood for patriotism and full of statesmen was stabbed to death by Indira gandhi in 1969 at Bangalore AICC meet and formed Indian National Congress( I) I representing her name. she ruined the country to her best and after a short stint by Rajive Gandhi, the present INC has become Indian National Congress Itally pvt ltd. and still people like you say it is INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
 
2) Regarding the growth of regional parties again the congress is the one which supported the birth and growth of these to keep their hold in the centre and leaving the sates to get ruined under this power and money centred regional parties and its leaders.
 
3) Sir , please tell me is there any state in India where you can see a united congress leadership and followers. Each state unit has more leaders and factions than the members. Please take the example of our Kerala State. How many fcations. The drama that is unfolding for the last 10 days on Chandi/Chennithala episode make one to vomit.
4) You call INC as a national party. How many states are they ruling sir and just count how many regional parties they have at center  on whose support they run this ineptive Govt.
So Please let us advocate for a clean Govt by choosing clean people which ever party they belong to.
Rgds
Bala Chennai
 
     
 

From: Gangadharan Nair N <ng.puthoor@gmail.com>
To: Keralites <Keralites@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, 6 June 2013 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: [www.keralites.net] Make democracy more beneficial to the country
 
Mr. Menon, Your ideas are very GOOD but the present system of Government should go and a new presidential form of government should come. Then what you said is imperative. The Indian Democracy will not function properly because of its own structural flaw and NOT the political parties. A 5 tier Democracy with over 30 lakh elected members, where in each tier is opposing the other will not take a nation to any where except destruction.  For your information today each member of Parliament represents an average 22.2 Lakh people. In the world there are 104 countries which do not have a population of even  20 Lakh and most of them advanced very well in the past 20 years. So it is better to hand over each Parliament constituency to its own member of Parliament and let him rule the constituency with the help of the Collector. ( More or less like old Naattu Rajaas) The member will be so serious and he will do everything for his constituency and the nation will progress. What the nation needs is a strong Vigilance Dept. to check the corruption. Let Central Ministry is formed from Rajya Sabha Members like our Manmohan Singh.

Gangadharan Nair.
On 4 June 2013 18:59, ICS MENON <ics_menon@yahoo.com> wrote:
 








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