Written By: Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee
Reflections on a visit to one of our country’s most remarkable grassroots institutions
It was a truly epic occasion on the 24th and 25th of June, when I visited the Balavikasa campus in Hyderabad. This campus has been built meticulously and lovingly by Shoury Singareddy who now heads up Balavikasa and leads from the front. The sheer beauty of the infrastructure is something to behold. The landscaping is green and looks truly delightful. The organization was founded by Shoury’s aunt Bala Theresa Singareddy and her husband André Gingras, a Canadian development expert and former diplomat. They established the organization—originally starting as SOPAR in Canada in 1977 and later expanding as Bala Vikasa in India in 1991—to pioneer community-driven development in rural areas.
Shoury and his gracious wife Sunita have continued the tradition and devoted their lives and energies to ensure that the mission of Bala Singareddy and her husband is successfully continued, reinvigorated, rejuvenated and multiplied in intensity. Balavikasa, working sincerely at the grassroots level over many decades, has built up a reputation for delivering on the ground and has earned the trust and faith of many corporates who have their CSR projects implemented by Balavikasa. What is especially remarkable about the organization is that it has developed a tremendous amount of expertise in training other NGOs, grassroots leaders, panchayat representatives, technicians and a whole host of other stake holders who matter and make a difference at the ground level. The original facility in Warangal is itself a manifestation of the manner in which Balavikasa has gone about approaching the grassroots leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders and over the years developed a whole ecosystem of training and delivery.
Here at the Hyderabad complex, they have now built a magnificent structure which is a green building. It has absolutely no paints on its walls, the original cement facade has been retained. The tiling work is a treat for the eyes but even more impressive is the training, consultation and ideation facilities that have been built here. A large number of classrooms, a board room, a podcast studio, auditorium and full-fledged canteen facilities make this project a truly self-contained and very well thought out infrastructure. Additionally, there is a separate block with residential facilities for trainees and participants.
Perhaps even more impressive than all of these, is the staff of Balavikasa many of whom I had occasion to meet and interact with. I found them to be completely devoted to the cause. The culture of the organization has permeated to every employee. Devoted and dedicated as they are, they are aligned to the overall objectives that Shoury has inculcated to ensure that real delivery and real impact is actually provided on the ground.
Impact is indeed the key word – the most fundamental concept that Shoury brings to his organization. End of the day, the projects which they design, and develop and share with the Corporates, the projects that they implement are done with great care to ensure that there is a sustainable and measurable impact on the lives of the communities to whom the projects are directed.
In the course of the Podcast that I had occasion to participate in, along with Shoury, we discussed the evolution of CSR, the way in which the strategic CSR was brought into India, the journey of CSR over these last 12 years, what more can be done how we can ensure that CSR delivers even better on the ground. In the same Podcast we also went over the rich history of Balavikasa, the way the organization has evolved, strengthened and developed and the mission and the vision with which Shoury and his dedicated co-workers are taking this journey forward.
I remember with particular affection my interaction with Mr. John Moses, head of Communication and Mr. Mogili Vijender, Manager Social Entrepreneurship and his team.
I can only say that Balavikasa today stands out as perhaps one of the truly outstanding non-profit organization in this country. It is that kind of NGO which was my dream when I thought of bringing CSR to India and allowing non-profits to participate in the CSR journey.
It is true that in some ways, this journey has just begun for Balavikasa. There are many milestones ahead and I can see that the inspiration with which this NGO is going forward, is truly an example for many others to follow.
I am also told that there is a Balavikasa University in the offing. Plans are already conceived and they are likely to be executed in the near future. When this University is brought into being and established, it will be a truly remarkable achievement for an NGO to have proceeded to a position where they can actually conceive of actualizing a University and coming into the higher education space totally dedicated to serve our communities, our under-served, our under-privileged. That will be a great achievement, and I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartiest good wishes to the organization and hope that their mission, their vision and their journey translate into reality.
