When giving is a way of life | India News

Pranav Sontakke, a banker from Amravati district of Maharashtra, has proven that you don’t need huge amounts of money to give back to society.
Growing up in a modest home, his schoolteacher parents had instilled in him the belief that true wealth was not measured in money, but in the ability to give.
“We are not rich, but we have always been happy with what we had,” says the 33-year-old. His journey towards philanthropy began almost by accident, five years ago, during a government scholarship programme, when he worked on India’s first Digital Village project. It was there that he saw firsthand the power of education to transform communities.
“Education empowers people,” he says, “and for tribals, it’s a way to uplift entire communities.” Even with a steady job, Sontakke couldn’t forget the families she had worked with. So, he began channeling his profits into creating free libraries and training centers for tribal students.
Then there is Gurgaon-based Parag Agarwal, who, after a long career in the corporate sector, including a stint as a consultant at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, found himself increasingly drawn to social causes.
“Maybe it was my exposure to Buddhism and meditation. Furthermore, I have always been concerned about the suffering of children,” he reflects, remembering how he passed by children begging on the streets with his son by his side. “I knew I had to do something for them.”
Agarwal founded a foundation focused on the education of underprivileged children before a change in perspective led him to champion the cause of animal welfare, after watching videos shared by his niece about the treatment of animals in the dairy and leather industries. “It seemed like a neglected cause and I knew I had to do more to protect animals,” she says.
The Good Samaritan veins in both Sontakke and Agarwal were driven by this community called living my promise (LMP) which encourages Indians with a net worth of Rs 1 million or more to donate at least 50% of their wealth to causes close to their hearts.
In 2019, Sontakke and Agarwal joined LMP. Sontakke’s foundation now supports schools with water coolers and digital whiteboards and has helped tribal students get places in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, to prevent migration from disrupting their education.

In the meantime, Agarwal is determined to provide capital and talent to create an ecosystem where “animals are treated with the same respect as humans,” he says.
As Gunjan Thaney, director of LMP, says: “We want to show that anyone can give back and make a real impact.” He described how the idea quickly became a word-of-mouth movement and a mutual belief in giving back. The stories of the early members struck a chord and there are now 154, reaching beyond typical philanthropic circles.
“The inspiration for LMP came from The Giving Pledge by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, which focuses on billionaires who commit to giving away the majority of their wealth. But LMP took a different approach. Conceived by promising founder Girish Batra and four #DaanUtsav volunteers, its aim was to democratize philanthropy for both beginners and experienced ones,” explains Thaney.
Unlike traditional philanthropy, LMP thrives on connections, not corporate structures. “The pledge is not legally binding, but rather a personal commitment to support causes of your choice, either during your lifetime or through your will. Once they join, members become part of a community and are encouraged to share their story publicly to inspire others,” says Thaney.
“For most, it’s about wanting to give back in a way that goes beyond just providing for our families,” Thaney says.
Interestingly, more than half (around 52%) of LMP members are women, many of whom have made this philanthropic commitment independently of their partners.
“These women come from all walks of life and may or may not be single, but what sets them apart is their determination to take control of their finances and their philanthropic journey,” adds Thaney.
While LMP does not directly suggest causes or organizations, it does connect members with NGOs based on their specific interests, only when they request it.
The initiative is careful not to judge and refrains from suggesting where to donate or which organizations are “best.” The idea is to respect the autonomy and personal motivations of each promisor.
One of the most prominent efforts within the LMP community is the Bundelkhand Integrated Village Development initiative that addresses rural challenges in Uttar Pradesh head-on.
For two years, the promisers have supported the education of disadvantaged children, introduced sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry and developed a model village in Gaurahari, focusing on women empowerment, skill development and healthcare .
Some members have also co-created platforms like Dolphin Tank (similar to Shark Tank), which awards microgrants to inspiring stories and sparked unexpected partnerships with NGOs working in education, healthcare, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
In 2021, Rs 24 lakhs from LMP’s Dolphin Tank helped launch a project with the Navoday Foundation in Assam’s Tamulpur district: training women in mushroom cultivation. What started with 200 women, who collectively earned Rs 19.2 million, has now grown to 1,200 women, who together earn a staggering Rs 1.2 million every month, totaling Rs 14 million per month. anus.
(Do you know any such inspiring story? Share it with us at changebegins-here@timesofindia.com)