This article is further evolved version of the previous one
that I published around 4 months ago. Thanks to all who contributed with
thoughts/ideas and participated in earlier discussions.
Introduction – Need of vegan revolution in India
Uncontrolled population growth and greedy industrial
revolution has tremendously increased
consumerism in India in last few years, putting tremendous stress on nature,
animals as well as people's health & well being. The value system is also
breaking down continuously. A vegan
revolution here can really change things – and it can very much happen with
people like you and me pitching in. YOU
can be the change and it is not that difficult at all!
Fight against negative/evil
contributions: Unfortunately
it is not just positive people who donate/contribute money. Lot of destructive
concepts also get funded this way, many times in the form of lobbying, and even
advertising, well within legal boundaries also. This makes it all the
more important why ethical people also should focus on similar activities to
maintain a balance and eventually prevail.
India is ideal platform
“Wake up Indians and revive concept
of ahimsa deep rooted in them”
Vegan revolution requires systematic
funding
Subhas Chandra Bose once famously
said ‘Give me blood and I will give you freedom’ and it inspired a new spirit
in entire India. Mahatma Gandhiji also appealed for generous contributions from
people all over the nation to accelerate the freedom movement. Any revolution needs support – in terms
of brain power, muscle power as well as money. If everyone had waited
for other person to act first or other person to act alone, then we wouldn’t
have been a free country even today. And
now is the time for yet another freedom fight, for animals. Until we again
get leaders of that caliber who can inspire the masses to that level, shall we
try and inspire each other, work together and make this happen?
Areas that need funding
Under vegan activism, we can
identify 3 distinct branches that need systematic funding.
Most of the so called for-profit ventures also are nothing but activism and such social
enterprises also need funding and support
Voluntary Vegan Tax Program – A
regular source of funds
We live in a complex system of inevitable taxes – Income Tax, Sales Tax, Service Tax, Professional Tax and what
not. In addition, sometimes government identifies some special areas and
imposes additional education cess etc. Government is a democratic system which
is beyond the control of any single person -
once decision is taken by the government, we don't have a choice but to abide
by the same, and we are supposed to feel that it is our duty also. Now, irrespective of whether all these
taxes are used as per our wishes or not, we still have to give. And most of us
end up giving 30-40% of our earnings in the form of these taxes.
So, when we have little control over
its application, and when our beliefs and wishes stretch to more areas, we generally
end up contributing towards some additional activities also, led by
non-governmental people/institutions. The question is – can we or rather shall
we make it more systematic and widespread movement? Can we stretch a little more and contribute a small lets say 1-2% of
our income towards vegan fund? We can consider it as a voluntary self-imposed
vegan tax, if you like.
It is not that challenging if you consider it as 'just
another tax' and make peace with it! But it can make the world much better
place, much faster.
So, can you sign up for a regular contribution and influence
more people to sign up for this? If yes, kindly fill up this form and stay tuned for further updates.
(Don’t worry, you don’t have to disclose your income or percentage contribution
to anyone, the term tax and indicated percentage etc. are only for your
reference, to get a perspective, that’s all).
Check out the below math and you
will be amazed to see what we could together achieve with just small
contributions from each person.
In Bangalore alone we might have
200+ earning vegans. Considering that, the figures mentioned below for entire
India is very conservative indeed. In spite of that, this is quite huge sum of
money if we apply it properly.
Monthly Salary
(In INR) |
Pledged amount to Vegan
Fund
(Just 1%) |
Number of Pledges
|
Total
(In INR) |
20,000
|
200
|
100
|
20,000
|
50,000
|
500
|
300
|
1,50,000
|
1,00,000
|
1,000
|
200
|
2,00,000
|
1,50,000
|
1,500
|
50
|
75,000
|
2,00,000
|
2,000
|
20
|
40,000
|
670
|
4,85,000
|
||
Average
|
724
|
Application of funds
The idea is to utilize the funds in
a very democratic way. If you consider 3 branches of activism, people might
have their own preferences. Plus, people might have
preferences with respect to specific activities also.
So, it is not about what I think or even
what majority thinks. It is about what YOU think. Individuals who are pitching
in and contributing should get to decide how the funds are applied. And for
that, let us create a proper platform
that facilitates such fund distribution in a democratic & transparent
manner.
Some examples on what we could
achieve with these funds
Based on my experience in Carrots
and various kinds of analysis, I can confidently say that we can realistically
achieve all the following and more with this kind of fund.
1.
Establish a chain of fantastic vegan
restaurants that focus on health, environment as well as animal rights. Wide
variety of tasty vegan products can be made available at very competitive
prices, so that general public also finds it irresistible. Making this self
sustaining after sometime is not that difficult, but initially they will need
good support.
2.
Regular vegan outreach programs of
various kinds, which are boosted with vegan food also. We can do this in
schools, colleges, hospitals, banks, government offices, malls and more.
3. Permanent event spaces all over the
country where we can arrange documentary screening, vegan parties and what not
– these event spaces can be within or attached to the restaurant itself.
4.
Implementation of great concepts
such as Seva Cafe on several occasions.
5.
Systematic
promotion of potlucks and various vegan events by spending on facebook ads,
banners etc.
6.
Great and
constant media coverage, systematic lobbying etc.
7.
Maybe we
can also dream of having farms where food is grown with very low cruelty
footprint :-)
Salient Features of Proposed Vegan
Fund
At a high level, the idea is to
create a legal non-profit entity and manage it in a professional and democratic
way. We can form core committee and brainstorm it further, and seek expert opinions
also wherever necessary (I do have several thoughts on this, but don’t want to
stretch this too far, it can be taken up separately later).
Summary
The vegan revolution in India will
happen only if people like you and me pitch in and contribute in all possible
ways: time-effort-money. This is an ‘ethical investment’ for a better tomorrow
for everyone.
Creating a systematic vegan fund and
applying it in a democratic-transparent way is a big step through which we can achieve
far reaching positive results. Would you like to come forward and sign up
please? If yes, please fill up this form to get further updates on this.
P.S. The main goal of this article
is to introduce and push the concept further. I will be happy to lead this
initiative further, slowly and steadily, but if someone else who is more
capable and enthusiastic wants to come forward and take it up, I will be even
more happier.
1 comments:
yes i m in, will discuss more personaly
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