David Cameron’s Big Society is Coming…..More Volunteers Needed…NOW!!

By the end of this week, before the end of the Conservative Party conference, we will hopefully know how David Cameron plans to run his Big Society. This much we know – in the short term, many council funded community projects will have their budgets slashed or completely pulled. In addition, given that the Big Society Bank is still a year away, this means many projects will not be able to fund their staffing costs in the near term. Volunteers will need to step in to meet the shortfall. Yes, I know we all pay taxes and the government should take care of it but here’s the reality – there’s no money left in the kitty. …and actually, it’s not enough to say that paying taxes excuses us from our duty. We are all responsible for our communities and our environment.

That’s why 21 November – National Sewa Day – is so important. The Indian diaspora accounts for over 5% of the UK population. The magnitude of the impact we can have here, as a community, is huge. It’s time for us to fight for our country.

Why is NSD a Game Changer? This year, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I’m probably telling you what you already know but our small island fended off an enemy attack, despite being outnumbered to the tune of 4:1. We managed to win the battle of the day because we stood together as a nation, as a society, as a community – every man, woman and child. The profile of UK society has changed immeasurably in the last 70 years. Since the end of WWII, there have been numerous waves of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent – Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis (and more Indians via Africa in the 70’s). These immigrant communities have contributed both to the economic and cultural wealth of this nation. Immigrant communities also contribute a great deal of their time, quietly or otherwise, to tackling social problems in the UK.

However, I can't remember any single initiative to bring all these individual communities together all at once like NSD. That's why we have billed 21 November 2010 as the most significant and important community building and social welfare event for at least a generation, if not two.

We are part of a special group. A group of people who have decided to take responsibility for the way our communities interact, the way our society is being shaped. I feel privileged to be part of this group. Indeed I am humbled by the generosity I have seen from supporters of NSD.

Given the changes that are afoot and the nature of our times, it’s time for us to do our National Service. As John F. Kennedy famously said, in his inaugural Presidential address: “And so, my fellow Americans - ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country!”

Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day