Visakhapatnam: City-based NGOs find it hard to absorb active volunteers. They have observed that city youth lacks the spirit of social responsibility. Though there were hundreds of registered volunteers in each organisation, only a few individuals turn up on any important occasion. Vizag Smiles, the CSR initiative Encore India BPO Services, has roughly around 200 registered volunteers. But, only 20-25 persons turn up whenever they plan any charitable activity. It donates used goods including clothes, books, toys and electronic items to orphans.
The NGO has organised a flash mob at CMR Central here on Friendship Day last year. “The event had attracted huge crowd, mostly youth in the 20-30 age group. About 100-150 persons have signed up as volunteers, but only 2 to 3 joined us. We felt there is no seriousness in the city youth towards the society,” said G. Sirisha of Vizag Smiles.The not-for-profit organisation has stopped doing events, and took the social media route to mobilise new volunteers. It is currently searching for voluntary doctors to conduct free medical camps in the rural areas of the district.
She further said, “We are planning to provide free education to poor children. It is very difficult to convince volunteers for teaching in a remote hamlet. With the available funds, we are ready to purchase a minibus to take them and conduct classes inside the vehicle. However, very few came forward to teach village students.”According to another NGO, people are ready to spend money on charitable institutions but don’t have time to take part in their activities. “Over 40,000 individuals have agreed to donate money and clothes to our trust. Among them, no one has time to spare just one hour with the orphan children,” said G Koteswara Rao of Amma Nanna Charitable Trust.
