At 71 years old, Pankaj Chimanlal Seth, from Ahmedabad, is far from your typical retiree. “I might talk a little extra today, hope you don’t mind?” he says with a friendly chuckle. His energy is infectious. After spending 35 years as a Class-2 officer, he now spends his retirement days improving the lives of those in need by giving them the means to start afresh.
“I didn’t want to sit idle after retirement,” he tells The Better India. So, he began by collaborating with various NGOs to deepen his understanding of how charitable organisations function and the most effective ways to support those in need.
Extending a helping hand
In 2013, after months of research and careful planning, Pankaj founded the Give Forever Foundation. His initial focus was on families coping with the loss of an earning member, children from slums, and senior citizens.
“I reached out to everyone I knew, asking for help in identifying families in need. To streamline the process, I created a form to collect essential details, like Aadhaar cards and educational qualifications, so I could assess their needs and provide them with food and basic necessities,” he explains.
“I created a calendar to tailor the supply of essential items with major festivals, along with a few special touches to bring extra joy and brighten their celebrations,” he smiles.
Gradually, he extended his support to blind individuals, people with disabilities, and divorcees. “I didn’t use WhatsApp or Facebook initially, so spreading the word was difficult. I had to rely on word of mouth,” he recalls.
As the foundation expanded, the 71-year-old found creative ways to involve the community. “We organise cultural programmes for children, senior citizens, and the blind. We also take underprivileged children to multiplexes and amusement parks so they can enjoy a good time,” he says.
On Holi, the foundation distributes chickpeas and dates, and on Diwali, it shares dry fruits and sweets, keeping the festive cheer alive among communities. As Christmas nears, it spreads warmth with cakes and blankets, ensuring everyone stays cosy. When the monsoon arrives, the foundation steps in to provide raincoats and umbrellas so that no one is caught unprepared.
Gradually, Pankaj has also learnt to leverage social media, and today, he uses WhatsApp to connect with donors.
“I have a dedicated group where donors can share their specific needs, whether it’s for a birthday celebration or an event for senior citizens,” he explains. “If someone wishes to donate stationery kits, I first inquire about their budget and then share the specific needs of the children,” he adds.
Today, the 71-year-old has successfully created a platform that bridges the gap between those eager to help and those in need.
“I am currently managing the Give Forever Foundation alone and have not been able to build a team yet,” he says.
But by partnering with NGOs like ‘Jeevantirth’, which focuses on educating slum children and daily wage labourers, and the ‘Make a Difference in Education Foundation’, dedicated to improving education for underprivileged children, Pankaj continues to help thousands of individuals build a new life.
‘Swa-Rojgar Sahay’: Ensuring lasting impact
Among all initiatives undertaken by the 71-year-old, the ‘Swa-Rojgar Sahay Yojna’ is one that stands out. The programme provides interest-free loans to help underprivileged people start their own small businesses.
“I wanted to create something that would last. People need more than charity, they need opportunities to grow in life,” says Pankaj.
“For instance, if someone is keen to sell vegetables, the foundation provides them with a vegetable cart, a weighing scale, and the produce, allowing them to pay in manageable, interest-free instalments,” he explains.
“I used to sell agarbattis on the streets and earned Rs 3,000 a month,” says 38-year-old Ashok Chavda. Through ‘Swa-Rojgar Sayah’, Ashok was able to start his own tea stall. “Now, my income has increased, and I’ve started selling snacks to my customers as well,” he beams.
For 45-year-old Kalyani Bendre, a widow who had been struggling to support her son after her husband’s death, the initiative helped her buy her own sewing machine. “Now, I run my own tailoring business. My income has increased, and I can provide for my son,” she says.
The Give Forever Foundation also provides people with an interest-free loan, or ‘Sahay,’ to purchase cows, allowing them to start a small business centred around dairy products. “The loan, amounting to around Rs 20,000, was repaid in easy monthly instalments over the course of 12 months,” Pankaj informs.
“There are times when people take longer to repay their instalments, but I am confident they will honour their commitments,” explains the founder. In the meantime, he covers the payments to the donors from his savings, ensuring they aren’t stressed about the delay.
As he looks to the future, Pankaj plans on expanding the ‘Swa-Rojgar Sahay Yojna’, helping small businesses grow by building stronger customer bases and improving marketing strategies.
“Currently, I am unable to assist them in boosting their marketing and sales because I am inexperienced in that field,” he explains. “But I’m not done yet. I want to help as many people as I can so they can have a peaceful life.”
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All pictures courtesy Pankaj Chimanlal Seth
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