Beggars Corporation: transforming lives, encouraging investment instead of donations
Social worker Chandra Mishra, from Odisha, has been addressing employment issues for several years.
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New Delhi: Chandra Mishra, a social worker from Odisha, has introduced a novel idea that has transformed the lives of 14 underprivileged families - the Beggars Corporation. His slogan, "Invest, Don't Donate," urges people to refrain from giving money to beggars but to invest in them instead. Mishra managed to repay the initial investors with a 16.5 percent profit within just six months.
Amid the COVID-19 lockdown in August 2021, many impoverished individuals sought assistance from Chandra Mishra, leading to the establishment of the Beggars Corporation. Mishra trained them in skills like bag-making and provided them with employment opportunities. Gradually, the initiative gained popularity, and more beggars joined the corporation, garnering praise from prominent figures.
According to India Today, Chandra Mishra stated that they were able to return the money they borrowed to the original investors within six months, along with a 16.5% return on investment. Despite initial doubts, they were able to fulfill their promise of investment rather than seeking donations. The investors were able to make a profit from their investment, and the borrowed funds were successfully returned.
In August 2022, Chandra Mishra and his partners, Badrinath Mishra and Devendra Thapa, registered a "For Profit Company" called the Beggars Corporation. Currently, they have helped 14 beggar families become entrepreneurs. 12 of these families are involved in bag production through a collaboration with the Beggars Corporation, while the remaining two have established shops near temples where they sell religious items and flowers.
Chandra Mishra's method involves investing only Rs 1.5 lakh per beggar, with Rs 50,000 being utilized for a three-month training program to develop the necessary skills, while the remaining amount is allocated towards setting up infrastructure for the beggar's business. Alongside Beggar's corporation he has launched the School of Life, which is focused on providing education to children who beg at the Varanasi ghats.
The Beggars Corporation, founded by Chandra Mishra, has been widely acknowledged and has brought him significant recognition, including a place in the 100 Innovative Startups and the Top 16 Mindful Startups. In the beginning, 57 people invested in his campaign, and with their funding, Mishra provided skill training and set up employment opportunities for the beggars. Mishra's approach has proved to be a distinctive way of transforming the lives of beggars and has encouraged many to invest instead of giving donations.
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Air India flight from Mumbai makes 'priority' landing in Bhopal after snag; return leg cancelled
Bhopal (PTI): A Bhopal-bound Air India flight from Mumbai carrying 175 persons on board made a “priority” landing here on Sunday due to a snag, an airport official said.
The aircraft landed safely at Bhopal airport at 3.20 pm, he said.
Consequently, the return leg of the flight from Bhopal to Mumbai, with 178 passengers booked, was cancelled, the official said.
AAI-run Bhopal airport said in a statement that Air India flight AI 633 “reported a technical issue to Air Traffic Control (ATC) during the flight from Mumbai to Bhopal”.
Immediately, all prescribed safety protocols were activated, and seamless coordination was ensured between ATC, airline ground operations, CISF and airpiort fire and rescue team of Bhopal airport, it said in a statement.
The flight, carrying 175 persons, including 166 passengers and nine crew members, landed safely at Bhopal airport at 3.20 pm, the airport operator said.
All necessary assistance and support were extended by the airport and airline teams as per the requirements of the flight crew, it said.
“Due to the technical issue, the aircraft was declared unserviceable, and as a precautionary measure, the return flight AI-634 (Bhopal to Mumbai) was cancelled by the airline to facilitate detailed inspection and rectification,” the statement said.
