This industrialist couple was born and brought up in England but chose to come to India to earn their livelihood and engage themselves in some philanthropic works also.
Septuagenarian Parkash Chander Sondhi and his better half Neena Sondhi, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility with sports goods manufacturing company FC Sondhi and Co (India) Pvt Ltd, talk about various projects they have undertaken for the welfare of city residents.
How did it all begin?
Our families were settled in England for long and we were known to each other. PC Sondhi did his MA from Cambridge University, while I studied BSc (Hons) Chemistry from the University of London. My father-in-law FC Sondhi decided that we must go back to India and pay back there. He and my husband came here in 1967 and began a trading unit. They switched over to manufacturing cricket leg guards and gloves with one machine and one labourer in the house we live in now near Football Chowk. I too returned the next year and we got wedded in Jalandhar on 1968 and then on started our journey.
Which is the main project you are engaged in?
We give scholarships to poor students of classes VI to postgraduation to aid them in studies. Most of the beneficiaries are from government schools and colleges. We give forms in schools which their teachers help in filling. We then verify the facts by sending our team to the home of these students and then on start the scholarships which range between Rs 1,200 and Rs 8,000 per annum. We do not give scholarships to those who score less than 55 per cent marks. The number of beneficiaries ranges between 300 and 500 a year, including students doing vocational training in leather technology, nursing, pharmacy etc. We hold an annual function and get-together for these children every year. Besides, we also run a book bank for the students from where second-hand syllabus books are given to needy students.
Which are the other social works done by the company?
We provide welfare aid to the needy elderly. We found that the government grant of old-age pension to the poor lot was not enough. So, we provide life grants to about 250 beneficiaries by supplementing them with about Rs 500 more a month. The financial aid for the elderly from our side comes to about Rs 15 lakh a year. We also help cancer patients by giving Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 one-time help. There are about 10 physically challenged persons and terminally ill patients whom we extend a welfare aid of Rs 1,000 a month.
What share of the company are you doling out for social works?
We calculate it to about 2 per cent of the average profit of the company for the last three years. It is not this amount that we are spending. In fact, we are also running a charitable trust which takes small donations too. On the whole, the aid that we extend touches about Rs 75 lakh per annum.
What are your other social engagements?
We are active members of various social groups like vocational training centre RUDSET, Rotary Club and NGO Goonj. It is several other sports good manufacturers, who are engaged with Goonj. We collect old, tattered clothes and even old cassettes, which are recycled and sold as purses, rugs and other stuff. Via Rotary, I am planning to come up with a project on manufacturing sanitary napkins from tattered clothes, adopt remote villages and donate these to the girls there.
What welfare activities are you doing for your factory workers?
Our nearly 400 staff gets subsidised food, free tea and free bus service for women. We pay for their vocational training if they are willing. We celebrate their birthdays and even give them small gifts. We have an annual fair for their families in the compound. We also try arranging their interactions with their favourite cricketers coming to our factory premises for orders and even at the Bhajji’s Cricket Academy in our compound. It really boosts their morale.
Are your children also engaged in social work?
Our son Anurag is primarily handling business. One of my two daughters Radhika is settled in the USA with her family. Our eldest daughter, of course, is involved in this work. She even takes out bimonthly magazine ‘Idea Exchange’. She also creates concepts for very interesting, satirical signages we put out outside our house.
Has the thought of returning abroad ever come to your mind?
No, not even once. It has been such a fulfilling experience working in India. We go to England only to meet our kin.
This article was taken from here.