'No Passion. No Cause'

I started with two people. Today www.karmayog.org has 1,000 NGOs from Mumbai and Thane - the largest online platform for NGOs in India

A visit to Rishikesh introduced businessman Vinay Somani to the Hindu theosophical concepts of gyanyog, bhaktiyog and karmayog in 2004. Soon, in the confines of his office at Fort's Hazarimal Somani Marg (named after his grandfather), was born ww.karmayog.org. Now it's the largest online platform for NGOs's in India and Somanii is also the convener of MCGM's NGD Council.

NO PASSION NO CAUSE
As a businessman who brings buyers and sellers of stones together, i made enough money for myself. Karmayog.org is my way of giving back to society.

UTOPIAN DREAMS
There are three aspects of civil society.The society, government and NGOs that form a bridge between the two. There needs to be a platform to bring people from all aspects of society together and that is what I provide.

GET THINGS ON PAPER
People complain about a range of issues and the MCGM for not taking them up. But people will not write to the ward officer. The MCGM won't act unless there is a written complaint. We go on telling the world that the bureaucracy is corrupt but when it comes to a written complaint, we all back off. We formed the NGO Council to facilitate people to write in.

SKILLED FORCE REQUIRED
There are so many skilled people in the corporate world who would love to provide their expertise to society but just don't know how. An NGO requires the skills and experience of people. Also senior IAS officers would like to network with skilled personnel in various fields so they can implement their strategies.

KARMAYOG MOVEMENT
We started with just two people going to all the NGOs and collecting information. Some were sceptical but most obliged. Now we have about 1,000 NGOs from Mumbai and Thane. We have begun rating the NGOs subjectively as A+, A, B and C making it easier for people who want to volunteer their services. We want to remain a bridge. There is a need for some kind of civil movement in society and I hope karmayog will help start that.
(As told to Eisha Sarkar)