{ முகநூல் கருத்துக்கள்}{ட்விட்டர் கருத்துக்கள்}

We can broadly classify organisations into two types: One - an organisation that brings together like-minded INDIVIDUALS, to work and fulfil a set of common objectives. This is the most common type of organisation. Second - an organisation that brings together other like-minded ORGANISATIONS, to work and fulfil a set of common objectives. This is a rare type. An organisation like the United Nations (UN) falls into this category.

Kayalpatnam has been abound with organisations of the first type. These organisations have worked with people for years, helping them in areas as diverse as education, health, economic and social.

Organisations of second type - coming together of various organisations and bodies under one umbrella - are rare, but has happened in the past. Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath is one such example.

Efforts have been taken in recent days to start an organisation (of the second type) to bring together various Kayal organisations based overseas and in India - under one umbrella. The need and usefulness of such an organisation can never be in any doubt. 20 hands are more stronger than 2.

This vision to bring all organisations under one banner is not new. It has been discussed in various fora for many years by many individuals and organisations. The renewed interest of various people in developing Kayalpatnam at all levels is clearly palpable now. Probably - this is just about the right time to give a push to such an effort.

As this effort to get into shape this organisation of organisations goes fullstream ahead, it would be wise to keep a few lessons learnt from the experience of Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath in mind.

Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath was founded in late 1990s - as an organisation that would represent all Jamaths and organisations in Kayalpatnam. One common complaint about this organisation has been that it is not active - in the way it should and could be. It is more reactive than pro-active. That is, it often acts only when a problem explodes, rather than working to prevent a problem from developing from the earliest stage itself.

Another complaint about this organisation is that - it rarely meets - though its bye-laws advise it to meet several times in a year. The agenda that it takes and the decisions it makes are not communicated to the general public in time and on all occasions.

What ails Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath? Looking at the structure of this organisation, one can see where its fundamental flaws lie. For any organisation to flourish and fulfil its objectives, it needs capable and active people at the top. The top office-bearers of Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath are respected individuals of Kayalpatnam, who have proven their capabilities in various fields in their life. That is true. It is also true - their capability in social work is mixed and their age doesn't allow them to be active in the way they should be. By saying this, we may be ruffling a few feathers, but in their hearts, people would acknowledge this is the fact, this is the reality.

Another complaint about Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath is that - it is not acting as a truly representative body. By definition, Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath is the coming together of ALL jamaths in Kayalpatnam. However, if you go through the top office-bearers of this organisation, the names you see will be the same names you see at the top posts of other bodies in Kayalpatnam. Lest it is misconstrued, it is not about individuals, it is about being representative. Kayalpatnam Aikiya Jamath - from the start - must have made clear (and other Jamaths must have insisted), the presidency and other positions on this body would be rotated between various Jamaths, all Jamaths - on a periodic (say once every year) basis. It never happened. Consequence? Lack of respect and participation from/of ALL the people.

As efforts to form a new organisation of (various overseas) organisations continue, it must be told - they can only succeed if other member organisations recognise it as a truly representative body and it will not be dominated by one set of people or organisation. This is the major lesson to be learnt from the past experience.

This organisation should set out for itself objectives that are relevant to an organisation of its type, put in place an organisation structure - that is capable, active, accountable and widely representative of all organisations it seeks to represent.