10 NGOs in Bengaluru Helping the Poor

Life in the city is fast and filled with opportunity, and as a city dweller serving the free market, it seems fair to say that not everyone shares the same privilege of these opportunities and possibilities. A country like India that serves the existence of a massive multicultural population looks to unload some of its burdens onto its native communities. Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are institutions set up by various communities and local enterprises looking to help the less privileged. 

In a country like India where a majority of its population resides in underdeveloped rural areas coupled with the existing urban poverty, NGOs are sometimes their only way out. NGOs look to provide assistance and opportunities to the underprivileged and less fortunate by setting up educational institutes, drives, reliefs and other events that generate either in cash or kind, a lump sum that aids the poor. 

NGOs in Bengaluru

Within the Indian circuit, the city of Bengaluru has managed to create a compatible environment for NGOs to run their operations. Bengaluru has now become one of India’s biggest IT hubs. The rampant urbanization and job creation have enabled the city to bear a massive chunk of the State’s weight. The city currently hosts nearly 600 NGOs that are looking to provide for the poor and less fortunate, and another 400 NGOs that work towards the betterment of animals and the environment, all working either at a local, state, national or global levels. 

10 NGOs in Bengaluru that are helping the Poor

Bengaluru is currently one of India’s biggest and most highly functioning cities with its ever-growing IT sector and education sector. The contemporary mindset and liberal stance of the populous have enabled them to look beyond their own needs and cater to the less fortunate. 

Bengaluru has now become home to many Non-Government and Non-Profit Organizations that are helping people within the city and the state of Karnataka. Some NGOs are even operational on a national level, for example, the Gandhi Fellowship is a massive institution that looks to educate the poor within the urban and rural sectors of India. 

Much like the Gandhi Fellowship which is not only a great job opportunity for freshers in the job market serving the needs of the less privileged, there are many other NGOs residing within the city of Bengaluru that are making the difference through either their philanthropy or their drives and programs. The article will now go on to introduce some of the big players within the NGO and NPO sector of Bengaluru that are specifically looking to aid the poor and less fortunate.

Here are the top 10 NGOs helping Poor in Bengaluru:

1. ACCESS (Association for Community Care, Education and Social Services)

Within the NGO sector of Bengaluru “ACCESS” has managed to create a good name for itself as the NGO works towards rescuing children who were forcefully made to work in the stone quarries and providing them with an opportunity to connect and join the society. The NGO provides nutrition and education to every child it rescues so that they can be reintroduced into society as better beings. The education helps them cope with societal constructs and makes them more able citizens of the country. 

People can join ACCESS and provide their services by becoming programme tutors or by conducting small seminars and presentations on important topics like education, hygiene, law and order, etc.

2. Mitra Jyothi

Founded in the year 1990, the Mitra Jyothi institution was set up to help the visually impaired. The organization works with the objective of helping the blind achieve a sense of independence and confidence so that they too can live a dignified life within society. Even though the NGO is open to all visually impaired persons, they land up catering mostly to the poorer class.

Through education, counselling and training, the organization looks to introduce and integrate them into modern society. With the integration of modern technology, there is software that enables the visually impaired to use computers. This is known as the Non-Visual Desktop Access, which is basically a free screen reading software. With access to computers and the knowledge of using such modern technology, it will become easier for these less fortunate individuals to integrate with society.

3. Karunashraya

The Karunshraya is one of India’s best NGOs that cater to those suffering from cancer. The  NGO provides free care to its patients who are usually from lower-income groups.  The treatment provided ranges from medical treatment to psychological support and rehabilitation which makes their life easier as they suffer from these advanced stages of cancer. 

The latest reports show that the institution has been catering to nearly 20000 patients by providing them with regular counselling sessions, medical assistance, rehabilitation seminars, therapies and financial advice. The NGO is creating a better and more comfortable life for those suffering from advanced stages of cancer, helping to reduce their suffering till the journey ends.

4. Pratham Books

Pratham Books is a wonderful initiative founded by Rohini Nilekani, Rekha Menon and Ashok Kamath in the year 2004. The objective of this initiative is to educate children and provide them with access to an archive of books that will inspire and educate young minds. 

The initiative provides a multicultural perspective of education with books published in 18 different languages. Along with the education initiative, the NPO also indulges the kids with story-telling sessions, book reading sessions and many more activities that will create a wholesome learning atmosphere for these underprivileged kids.

5. Aravani Art Project

India has always been a diverse and tolerant land and this next initiative looks to reintegrate the outcasts of medieval times. The transgender community back in the day was a boisterous art community that shared a very different perspective on life. Their beauty, dance and music entertained many intellectuals and kings over the years. Unfortunately, their integration with post-independence Indian society generated much friction which kind of made them outcasts.

The Aravani Art Project looks to educate modern society about transgender and their culture through art. This art could be in the form of plays organized by the NGO, murals, street art, etc. Hosting regular talks and discussions so as to spread awareness and integrate the community within today’s society is the main objective of this institution.

6. Christel House Learning Center (CHLC)

The Christel House Learning Center is another extremely popular institution in Bengaluru, looking to educate children from poor and underprivileged families. Most of these kids are from slums and orphanages and the institution provides education till class 12.

The institution helps children by providing them with the opportunity to raise their future standard of living and better their lives. Along with schooling, the institution strives to provide an all-around education by encouraging the children to participate in extracurricular activities like sports, yoga, music, poetry, etc. The CHLC organization has been working towards the betterment and education of children since 2001 and has recently become one of Bengaluru’s biggest NPOs that is operating on a global level.

7. Make a Difference (MAD)

The Make the Difference initiative has managed to catch national attention with its operational head office in Bengaluru. MAD looks to attend to the children of society who are either underprivileged or residing in toxic broken homes. Currently operating in 14 states the initiative has around 60 shelters that provide for children and women. 

Along with the provision of shelter, the organization also takes up educating the children living in their shelters and pushing them to at least clear their 10th standard. This wonderful initiative has been making a difference since 2006 looking at bettering the lives of our underprivileged youth and moving towards a brighter tomorrow.

8. Sathi

Sathi or also known as the society for assistance to children in a difficult situation is an initiative that works alongside government homes and looks to reintegrate the children with their families. Child Welfare Committees throughout Bengaluru take part in this initiative so that a child can be protected and reunited with his or her family. Usually catering to children who get lost or run away, the Sathi group keeps these kids safe until they find their families.  

Operating in 14 states within the country this initiative has helped 60,000 children to reunite with their families and with the rampant increase in child trafficking, such institutions are required to keep the children safe and away from danger.

9. U & I

Founded in the year 2011, the U & I initiative provides educational programs for underprivileged women and children, children with mental disabilities and women from low-income backgrounds.  

Education in subjects like English and computers helps them become more independent in terms of thought and more capable in terms of communication and fitting in with modern society. Currently, the NGO is operating in 20 cities across India with nearly 60 learning centers and 16000 children on board.  Working with almost 2000 volunteers from across the country the U & I initiative has managed to better the lives of many.

10. Diya Foundation

The Diya Foundation is an initiative looking to provide vocational training to differently-abled people. Founded in 1999, the Diya Foundation has managed to help many people over the course of 20 years.

The foundation looks to provide and train differently-abled individuals with employable skills so that they can take up work and operate as a part of society. Each individual is assessed and then trained according to interest and aptitude with a vocation that can make the individual employable in the future. Along with the vocational training, the Diya Foundation also organizes many other activities like sports day, musical evenings and movie screenings. 

Summary

In a nutshell, we can say that Bengaluru has managed to create a viable atmosphere for the operations of so many NGOs and NPOs that look to serve the greater good. The objective of most is to educate, protect and uplift society so that everybody has the opportunity to lead a decent life. 

There are many to contribute to society and help the less privileged through volunteering or donations. Each person has their own perspective on charity, the outcome of which is making someone else’s life better. It’s a beautiful way to give back to society what we received without even asking. 

The article introduces the concept of Non-Governmental Organizations and goes on to describe the scene in Bengaluru. With the growing population of the country, the government depends on its local communities to carry out a certain level of charity and philanthropy to help the less privileged and spread the joy of opportunity within the society.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating you can always visit the Sakal Relief Fund website and show your support.