The prime mover behind this growth is the financial and moral backing of the UT. According to Dr. Pramod Agrawal, the Chairman of AADHAAR, contributions made by various divisions of the UT (CTW, Faculty Club, GW, MESA+ Institute and TNW) added up to more than 6,000 Euros in 2007, a near-100 percent increase in donations made in 2006. Agrawal attributes this increase to the organization's non-religious, non-profit approach, and to the regular feedback donors receive about how their donations are being spent.
One of the current projects of AADHAAR is in cooperation with Swabhimaan, a Bangalore-based organization working for the welfare of young, underprivileged girls. This organization handles the educational and daily needs of 16 girls under the age of 14, apart from its involvement in other social welfare activities. Impressed by this grassroots approach, the Dean of the Faculty of Behavioral Science, Professor Hubert Coonen has assured financial support for this project for next year as well. In his opinion, the other faculties of the UT should also try and support AADHAAR's cause in the long run to enable it to expand its efforts through the development of new projects.
Besides directly supporting the organization with funding, the UT is also responsible for the way in which AADHAAR approaches its pet project, the Knowledge Center. The concept of the Knowledge Center revolves around providing underprivileged children free access to a library, computers and associated software programs, under a single roof. The research-oriented approach of the UT has stimulated AADHAAR organizers to conduct their own research into ways of making the Knowledge Center self-sustainable.
AADHAAR strives to share its know-how garnered over the past decade with other motivated individuals and groups at the UT that are keen to make a difference in their homeland. For more details, email Agrawal: [email protected] or visit the website, www.aadhaar.com.
