The social worker
He was a total failure in academic studies. He barely scraped through bachelor degree in
Commerce. Unfortunately he completed MS Office, and a little bit of Photoshop.
Chandrasekhar, his class mate is the Managing Trustee of a successful voluntary organization
called Village Development Trust – VDT – located in Bihar. He invited Johnny, as he called
him, to join as junior accountant in Village Development Trust.
This is the genesis of the social worker, the hero of this story.
Johnny was simply speechless with amazement over the luxury life of Chandru alias
Chandrasekhar – marble and granite tiled villa, two luxury cars, three beautiful lady
coordinators living with him in the same villa, a two storeyed office cum training centre
implementing six projects in three southern districts in Bihar with 160 million rupees budget
per year. However, Chandru treated his erstwhile college mate, aged 42 but still a bachelor
friend, Johnny well providing all comforts in life.
Johnny was happy with Rs. 40,000/ honorarium per month, a two wheeler, a well- furnished
house and a lady cook to prepare meals for him. Moreover, Chandru used to share evening
Scotch whisky with his friend. Johnny never dreamt in his life that social work had such a
luxury face also.
One day during regular drinking session, Johnny enquired about the family of Chandru. He
replied very casually “don’t meddle family with business” and winked his eyes. Johnny
understood and never asked any unpleasant questions.
After two years of hard work and enjoyment, wisdom dawned on Johnny that he should also
serve the marginalized poor communities as he had learned by now the art of manipulation of
accounts, exaggeration of poverty, eliciting the sympathy of donors through concocted facts,
figures and bribed victims of social and economic injustice.
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These “women victims with tears” play decisive role in fund mobilization. This did not mean
that Chandru had not done any good work among the community. He adhered strictly to the
formula; 40: 40: 10: 10. He is very much disciplined in enforcing it.
During his last birthday party with his girlfriends and Johnny, he was under heavy booze and
he revealed it to Johnny. 40% to the community, 40% to his family, 10% for administration
and 10% for pleasure. Johnny could not but marvel at the brilliant project implementation
strategy of Chandru.
This incident actually motivated Johnny to develop concern and commitment towards the
empowerment of the child laborers which had been the paradigm shift of the donor agencies
during the end of 1990s. He was so moved by the plight of child laborers in the neighbouring
Gaya district.
One day, during the usual fellowship drinking session, Johnny disclosed his concern and
commitment towards the child laborers to Chandru with a lot of hesitation. Chandru was
overwhelmed by the change of heart of his childhood friend.
“ Dear Johnny, from the age of five onwards, we studied together, played together, ate together
and shared masturbation secrets” He paused a little, giggled and continued ” should I not do
this small favor to you? Please gulp one more peg”
Johnny was equally overwhelmed “Chandru, I heard about God, but I see God now in
you. Don’t think it is an exaggeration to please you. You are simply great.”
“Don’t use big words Johnny. I will do all support to you”
Next day, Johnny entertained a doubt whether to trust an alcoholic or not. So he approached
him during the office hour with hesitation and reminded him of the previous day promise.
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Johnny was astonished to find Chandru extending a Trust Deed copy to Johnny and
said”Johnny! This is my Trust Deed copy. I have already called my advocate by phone. He
will be here within thirty minutes. He will make changes in this deed. Okay. I have also
selected a name for your Trust. It is Child Development Trust. Is it Okay for you?”
Johnny was speechless for a few seconds. He resisted the temptation to hug him. He soon came
down to earth and said politely “Chandru! Whatever you do is good for me” He could not
continue further as tears filled his eyes.
“Cool down, Johnny! Cool down! As you like it, you shall select Gaya district as your target
area. There are a lot of child laborers there. I will continue your honorarium, rent an office
building and introduce a development consultant to you. He is from Nagercoil. He knows
Hindi, English and Tamil. Three mangoes in one stone” He stopped and laughed. Johnny was
blinking like an idiot, unable to understand the three mangoes.
Continued Chandru “He can convince the foreign donors as he is a master manipulator. He knows
good English. He writes appropriate proposals according to the policy guidelines of donor
agencies. He is fluent in Hindi. Hence he will mingle freely with the marginalized poor
communities with ease and mobilize them for your Trust. He can act as mediator between you
and the donor agencies on the one hand and between you and the local community on the
other. We shall talk it in detail in the evening. Okay”
Johnny realized the meaning of his life. An uncontrollable burst of commitment to uplift the
downtrodden child laborers filled his heart.
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The evening get together was much larger. There were five persons and five glasses with soda
and Scotch. They were; Chandru, Johnny, the development consultant, advocate and auditor.
Chandru introduced Johnny to others as an outstanding committed social worker and his child
hood friend. He assured Johnny of their support to realize his dream.
The next meeting between Johnny and Chandru was an unforgettable training that
professionalized the commitment of Johnny as a social worker.
After sipping the usual quota of Scotch, Chandru talked like a professional trainer.
“Listen Johnny! Take my advice very seriously otherwise you cannot survive in this highly
competitive social work. Now you are a Director like me. You must accept your strength,
weaknesses, opportunities and threat. I appreciate your commitment towards the development
of the child laborers. That is your strength. You have two weaknesses. First fluent English to
impress the European donors. Then manipulating poverty and social injustice to generate
funds. So you need a consultant. Mr. Sebastian has these qualities. He was an ex – seminarian
but now addicted to sex and alcohol. Utilize him and tolerate him till you get huge funds.
Once you are as rich as myself, you shall appoint competent full time project officer to replace
him. I will support you for one year to create rapport and affinity with 30 villages where child
laborers are high in Gaya District with the help of the consultant. Then I will introduce you to a
German donor agency with a mission focus on elimination of child laborers. One more very
important thing Johnny! Include a catholic priest in your Board of Trustees. The Europeans
give lot of respect for priests and your Trust will gain their credibility. It is relatively easy to
mobilize funds. I will arrange it. But you should not drink or smoke in front of him. Oaky!
Don’t worry, I am here to support you”
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Johnny felt as if God was speaking to him for the good deeds done by his parents.
Within one year, Johnny was a popular name among the poorest of the poor, particularly
among the parents of child laborers. He conducted evening education classes for the children,
helped the families get ration cards, represented their hamlets and got street lights for the
hamlets and what not. All with the help of Sebastian the consultant who, remained in the
background unnoticed lest he might lose his whisky and honorarium. Johnny thanked
profusely Chandru whenever he got opportunity to meet him to ensure his gratitude.
After fourteen months of hard work, Johnny received a phone call from Chandru who
conveyed a good tiding about a German donor agency willing to support empowerment of
child laborers project in North India. He asked him to submit a proposal immediately with the
help of the consultant.
Johnny acted in a war footing. He summoned Sebastian, the consultant to his office and
assigned him the task of developing a masterpiece work on child labour. He gave him one litre
bottle of whisky. But Sebastian, through his long experience, found it a golden opportunity to
extract as much money as possible. Hence he started the bargain “Sir, I know a person who
participated in a national level workshop on Child labour in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. If I spend a
few days with him, then I can prepare a master piece work on Child labour eradication”
“How much you need?”
“Ten thousand rupees sir”
One million dollar budget blurred the rational faculty of Johnny who gave the money with a
silent curse.
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Sebastian went to the office of a local NGO working in Kaimur district. He used to draft project
for him staying in the guest room of the NGO. He also brought with him a workshop paper
titled “Impact of alcoholism on the Emotional Intelligence Development of Children”.
Sebastian had stolen this paper from a Tamilnadu NGO during his visit two years back to
write a project proposal.
Within ten days, Sebastian completed the assignment and the proposal was sent to Mr. Axel
Tiessman, Director, Asia Desk, Food for the Children, Germany with a strong letter of
recommendation from the local Bishop. Fr. Aloysius, the Trustee of the Trust got the letter
from the Bishop.
The Day of Judgment came with a letter from Axel Tiessman, appreciating the proposal and
his intention to visit the project area. Chandru advised Johnny to introduce Sebastian as his
project officer and instructed Sebastian how to deal with Tiessman.
Axel Tiessman was very much impressed by the simplicity of the office of Child
Development Trust. He was equally impressed by the Green Tea served in clay tumbler and
local fruits served in clay tray. He openly praised their concern for nativity. Johnny was waiting
for this opportunity. “Sir, I was inspired by the spiritual values of Mahatma Gandhi,
simplicity of life, Truth and the high quality of life. His concern for the poor motivated me to
commit myself to social work.” He stopped suddenly as he feared that he should not
contradict himself by over talking.
First session was clarification from Axel Tiessman on the relevance of the project. Sebastian
tackled the question. “Sir, neither any NGOs nor the government departments are concerned
about the emotional intelligence development of the child laborers. I participated in an
International Seminar held in New Delhi five years back.
The Social worker
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I was really shocked to know about the damage caused to the Emotional Intelligence of the
child laborers. Dr. Srinivasan who did his PhD on Emotional Intelligence and Child Labour in
Stanford University presented a very scientific evidence on this. You may know well that the
very first scientific study on emotional intelligence disorder problem was conducted in
Germany” Sebastian paused for a second to see the reaction of Tiessman. Predictably he
sensed an expression of surprise in his face.
Encouraged by this he continued “In the 19 th century, Prussian military regime struggled hard
in military campaigns against smaller European nations. Hence the military regime set up an
Inquiry Commission to study the reasons for poor performance of the mighty Prussian Army.
The findings shocked the military establishment. Have you heard of the findings?”
He did not waste time to get the answer from Tiessman. He continued “majority of the army
conscripts of the army had been child laborers in their childhood. As a result, their emotional
intelligence was distorted during their childhood under harsh working conditions and sexual
abuse by adults. Hence they were not able to manage their emotions and act under disciplined
conditions. Immediately the Prussian Military Regime amended the Constitution to include
compulsory education for children.”
Tiessman nodded his head in approval. He did not like to question or contradict him without
any evidence.
Sebastian continued further. “Immediately after the Russian Revolution, the communist
government assigned a huge task to one of the greatest educationalists in Russia. I don’t
remember his name, may be Chernankov. The assignment was to impart education to 5,000
child laborers and rehabilitate them. After ten years, the educationalist submitted his report to
the government. All the child laborers had been rehabilitated as government officials, teachers,
engineers, police officers and soldiers. One government official asked an important question to
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the educationalist”
Sebastian paused deliberately to study the response of Tiessman. He noticed an eagerness in
his face to get an answer.
Continued Sebastian with joy” The question was crucial. Why he was not able to train an
artist, say a dancer, a singer, a sculptor, a poet etc. To which the educationalist replied that he
could not succeed as their Emotional Intelligence had been distorted in their child hood. The
Communist Government immediately included compulsory education in the Constitution of
all Soviets. Mr. Tiessman have you noticed the similarity in the Prussian and Russian
experiments?”
Sebastian asked the question and gave the answer also. “Child Laborers are, by and large,
victims of Emotional Intelligence Disorders all over the world. In our working area, it is
horrible” Sebastian produced certain survey findings which, he explained, were proof for the
poor level of foundational skills of the child laborers in their working villages.
Tiessman was then totally convinced of the relevance of the project. So he casually glanced
through the papers and asked for a visit to the villages. Both Sebastian and Johnny brain
washed two villagers for one month on the do’s and don’ts during the visit of Tiessman.
Everything worked perfectly well.
Tiessman left the next day assuring Child Development Trust of one million Euros for three
years.
Chandru, Sebastian and Johnny gathered that night after Tiessman left. Chandru
prescribed pre planned directions to Johnny and Sebastian. “Johnny, the credit for this huge
fund goes entirely to the negotiating skills of Sebastian. So keep him as your
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right hand. Pay him Rs. 50,000/ per month and appoint a girl from one of the village as his
personal assistant. Sebastian need not run from pillar to post to earn his livelihood and
whisky. He shall get everything here. Okay Sebastian! Is it acceptable to you or you want
more?”
Sebastian smiled shyly and exhibited an ugly body language which both interpreted as sign of
approval.
Thus the social worker became the Director of a multi-million project.
Ten years passed since the first visit of Tiessman to Child Development Trust. The proverbial
much water flowed under Thames happened in the Trust. Instead of water, it was Dollars and
Euros. Child Development Trust is now working in four districts in Bihar and three districts
in Uttar Pradesh.
Sebastian was sent out unceremoniously and he was replaced by well-educated and beautiful
female project officer.
He replicated the life style, manipulations and betrayals of Chandru in all aspects of life.
He got signatures of two lakh child laborers and sent them to a Belgium based organization
that used to honor NGOs working for the development of child laborers.
Johnson from India was honored three years ago.
He considered himself as the messiah for child laborers in the five districts. The child laborers are
still working in these districts.
Johnny is now living in a palatial villa fixed with marbles and granites.
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Johnny celebrated his birthday party on 21/04/2018 with Chandru and two lady coordinators
in his villa with whisky and beers.
He heard some noises outside the house.
He went out to enquire. The watchman was shouting at a woman beggar with a girl child. The
watchman complained to Johnny “Sir this beggar woman entered the compound and plucked
this rose flower for her child”
Johnny was furious. He slapped the cheek of the child with such force that the child yelled
out a scream that brought Chandru and others from inside the house.
Fuming with anger Johnny screamed at Chandru “See Chandru! I purchased this rare rose plant
from Bangalore flower exhibition for 10,000 rupees. I never allow even my staff to pluck
them. This beggar woman plucked it for her child. How dare she is. Haribai, if I find such
lapse once again you will be thrown out of job.”
The screaming of the child and the consolation of the mother ached the heart of Omana, the
sweeper from Kerala working in the villa.