City Pulse

“Swabhimaan”, when translated into English means self-respect and dignity. It comes as no surprise then that Venkat and his wife Vijaya Iyer would choose this very world as the name for their NGO. The name very succinctly explains the philosophy and intent behind this organisation. The couple started this NGO in 2000 with a simple agenda; ensuring people from lower income group do not go to bed hungry. To achieve this, these Bengaluru residents created a simple formula; taking leftover food from companies that would have otherwise gone waste, and distributing it among those who need them, thereby reducing food wastage and ensuring healthy food reaches those in need. 

Swabhimaan started as an NGO initiating programmes focussing on educating young girls from lower income neighbourhoods. The first residential program for 15 girls was started in the year 2000. “My wife and I were keen on doing something constructive for girls from low socio-economic groups. While living in Muscat, we would constant plan for it in our minds,” says Venkat. 

The decision to leave his lucrative job in Muscat and move to Bengaluru to start an NGO met with a fair share of apprehensions from his family members. “Our families were worried about our personal finances and how they will be met if we plunged into social service full time. I was just 43 then and Vijaya 35. Since we were not from Bengaluru and had no experience in social work, their fears did seem a little justified. However, we initially worked for about six months with a few NGOs that were working in the space of child education to understand how such organisations functions. That made us confident enough to venture out on our own,” says the 60-year-old.  

Food By chance:

The idea of distributing cooked food stemmed from a tragedy that had befallen many shanties in 2012. “For the last eight years or so, we were providing monthly groceries worth Rs 50,000, to a large number of very needy and deserving families residing in slums in and around Ejipura. In the year 2012, about 1500 families living in shanties were evicted from their homes one night, causing a great deal of despondency among those families. That forced us to think of ways to help these families with cooked food instead of groceries as now they had no means of cooking,” he explains. 

Venkat identifies poverty-stricken families in dire need of food through his volunteers and provides them Swabhimaan Food card that entitles them to meals for their entire family each day, except Sundays.

Swabhimaan currently collects food from two companies in Bengaluru, INTUIT, and Amadeus. “This is good quality food that was in surplus in their canteens after their lunch, all it needed was to be reached to the needy and deserving,” says Venkat.

“INTUIT, located on Sarjapur Outer Ring Road, was the first company that we approached. They were excited about the idea but were worried that the repercussion arising out of any untoward incident like food poisoning would tarnish their reputation. I had to sign a legal agreement with them that completely indemnify them of all consequences after they handover the food to me," he adds.

Reaches 450 people:

Swabhimaan serves about 450 people on an average every day. “We serve to a small percentage of families in L R Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar,” he says. 

“One representative from each of these families bring their vessels to collect Rice, Chappati, Dal and vegetables at around 4.30 pm. Therefore, each person gets food for at least four members of their families,” he explains. Venkat is aided by six volunteers for this exercise. 

Swabhimaan distributes food every day, “Except for Saturday and Sundays. On Saturdays, we cook food ourselves and serve, and Sundays we take a break.”    

Other than distributing food, Swabhimaan also manages two free health clinics, a large interest free Micro Finance activity, funds the education of about 150 students in the slums, provides grocery to a good number of deserving families, conducts youth empowerment programs, manages a co-operative cloth bag manufacturing unit that provides employment to about 30 women on a daily basis. “We are also guardians to 15 girl children who are all in their teens now,” adds the changemaker.

To reach out to Venkat, contact him at venkatraman.iyer1958@gmail.com