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Poor more charitable than rich!

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Poor more charitable than rich!
Poor more charitable than rich!

Mysore, Oct 9 :

 The poor are more charitable than the rich when it comes to giving to good causes, according to a survey conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the fact which challenges the "Robin Hood" myth of charity as an agent of redistribution. The survey result has come true on Friday when the Mysore District Incharge Minister, Ms Shobha Karandlaje, along with Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji of Sutur Mutt and others, went on a padayatra to collect relief fund for the flood victims in North Karnataka.

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The padayatra that was kicked off from Devaraja Urs Road, which is occupied by affluent commercial complexes and malls, saw lukewarm response and yielded fewer funds than expected. On the other hand, the least well-off gave generously to charity. The initiated was following overwhelming response for the Chief Minister, Mr B S Yeddyurappa, headed padayatra in Bangalore where Rs 500 crore flood aid was received in two days that includes cash, clothes and other relief material. To read more, the owner of Planet’M’, a multi-storied foot mart, donated Rs 10, while a handicapped Sundar Raj, who earns just Rs 4,000 per month, has donated Rs 3,000 worth new cloths for the cause besides giving Rs 1,000 cash. A teenager Kavya, who is visually challenged, donated Rs 500 of her fee amount for the cause. "We're not scared of poverty the way rich people are. We know how to get the lights back on when we can't pay the electricity bill", Ms Kavya said. Laughing at the figures, Ms Shobha told the TNN that “When going gets tough, the poor get giving. They're more generous in tough times.”

However, a mall owner said that it was not their responsibility to donate and that they already "gave" through taxes. Others said they could not spare the money and, when asked, none considered themselves wealthy. Some criticised the voluntary sector for adopting professional fund-raising methods and said they did not trust charities to use donations wisely