Governance for Development and Growth in Rajasthan and

Governance for Development and Growth in Rajasthan and India A Case Study of Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s Post Graduate and Education Colleges http: //www. helenakaushik. org http: //kaushikfoundation. org By: Prof. Surendra K. Kaushik, Founder of the College A U. S. 501 ( c) ( 3 ) Non-profit entity

Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s P. G. College • A Brief Chronology – – – January 1950: India adopts its constitution. At the age of 5, I observe that college educated people are important in my village, Rajasthan and India. I make a (secret) promise to myself to promote higher education in my village, if possible. August 1970: I move to Boston to pursue a doctorate at Boston University. September 12, 1973: Helena Pokornicki of Detroit and I get married in Boston. 1977 to 1990: Helena and I visit India together five times. Helena takes much interest in women and children’s education and health. January 1991: Helena suffers a stroke that leaves permanent disability.

Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s P. G. College • 1992 -1995: We fund scholarships in the local secondary school. • Fall 1996: I go on a sabbatical to India lecturing at some fifteen colleges/universities and observe similar conditions of women and education across the country. • January 1997: In fulfilling my secret promise, announced the establishment of the Helena Kaushik Women’ College. • August 4, 1999: Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s college is inaugurated and classes for B. A. 1 begin the next day with five optional (elective) subjects. • July 2002: First Graduation ceremony with B. A. degree. • October 2002: FCRA Registration. • 2000 -2012: More than 120, 000 sq. ft. of modern Academic Hall, Guest House, Residence Hall, Labs. , and Sports facilities are built. • August 30, 2012: 11 th Graduation is held. More than 1, 100 poor rural women from all groups (mostly SC/ST, OBC and Minorities) have graduated with B. A. , B. Ed. , B. Sc. , M. A. , and M. Sc. degrees of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.

Governance Challenges for Ventures for Social Good • Government Approvals in education, health, energy, water, etc. • Politics and its management- local, regional, state, and national – Party Affiliation – Caste, Reservations and Quotas • Bureaucracy- local, district, state and national – Indifference, Mistrust, Non-response, Discretion and Delays, Baksheesh and Corruption in Needed Approvals

Best Practices to Overcome Challenges • Resources Available – Processes: Contact, Inform and Pursue locals, authorities and politicians – Laws: know and follow to meet requirements – Regulations: Navigate carefully and in timely fashion at local, regional, state and national levels – Right to Information (RTI)

Mistakes to Avoid/Minimize • Get Bureaucracy and Politics on your side as a genuine value adding do good entity. • Actively follow the file and do not wait for a response. Volunteerism is absent so use paid help to pursue and achieve goals of your mission. • Local Human Capital is Scarce so Bring in Talent, Technology and Management Personnel from outside otherwise there will be a great waste of time, effort and money with very little results to show. • Doing Good is Not Easy so Don’t Be Discouraged.

Lessons Learned/Recommendations • Doing Good in the area of your compassion and interest is desperately needed and it can be done. • It seems Baksheesh is a habit and necessity (thanks to the Raja-Maharajah-Nawab feudal systems of India and the British Raj) but corruption and bribery are not-at least that is our experience. • We acknowledge a flood of corruption reports from within the government, press, anticorruption movements, Lokyuktas, however. • Don’t let this discourage anyone from contributing to and building a good society.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (Overseas Indian Honor Award) January 9, 2012