Indeed,
supporting a social cause is a selfless act and purely an individual choice.
Most often, it is an inner voice urging us to do something good. We tend to
extend our support to that particular social issue or concern with which we
identify with the most. Say for example, if we are concerned about the
situation of children belonging to low socio-economic strata then we will most
likely support a children
charity. Similarly, if we are a pro-environmentalist, then we will be
more inclined towards a charity working to preserve the environment.
Social
issues, though appear to be affecting a segment of the society, in reality,
seeps deep down impacting the entire ecosystem; and all social issues are
interconnected with each other. Let’s take hunger as one of the social issues
that countries across the globe is struggling with and how it gives rise to
other issues. A family belonging to low socio-economic strata and unsure of
where their next meal will come from will more often than not engage all its
members to earn for a square meal, including children. This obstructs children
from attending school resulting in illiteracy. An illiterate individual does not
qualify to get a well-paying job and returns back to the vicious cycle of
poverty-hunger-illiteracy. It also becomes difficult for them to comprehend the
concept and methods of healthy, sanitation, and hygiene resulting in more
complex issues.
Your support to a social organisation can
bring you rewards too!
The
interconnectedness of social issues makes it a prerequisite that global
organisations, governments, NGOs, and the civil society work in tandem with
each other and in equal quantum. Hence, government of several countries
including India has made the provision of tax deductions on donations
towards charitable organisations. So, as you extend a helping hand in support
of a social cause, you get rewarded with tax benefits.
For
instance, if you support The Akshaya Patra Foundation, a children charity
in India working in the field of providing daily school meals to government school
children, you will be eligible for tax benefits under Section 80G of the Indian
Income Tax Act. The tax exemption donation will be on your total
donation contributed to the Foundation.
A win-win situation
The tax exemption
donation makes way for a win-win situation – benefitting the NGO and
you. Continuing with the same example of Akshaya Patra, when you donate for
this charity, this is how your contribution makes an impact:
So,
basically by contributing to feed school children, you are also saving tax.
In
conclusion, so many causes can be supported, if we choose to make use of the
provision made by government of tax deductions on our contribution to
social causes. Well then, let’s make a choice today!
Author
Profile:
The
Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian NGO implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme
along with several child-centric initiatives. Your support to Akshaya Patra can
potentially improve lives of millions of children with health and education.
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