Author Description

Cultivating collective consciousness, or group awareness, is vital for voluntary service. If voluntary service to the poor is charged with collective consciousness, the impact increases many fold. The conscious members of voluntary group always serve better whether they serve individually or in group. This statement is the consolidated opinions of 45 experienced volunteers. For a long time, they work with Institute for Indian Mother and Child (IIMC), possibly the largest non-governmental voluntary organisation in West Bengal, India. They were participating in a well-planned workshop that ensured them with a conducive, flexible atmosphere for elaborate group discussion. They prudently used two keynote speeches in raising consciousness among themselves as well suggesting to resolve certain social and economic problems. The author curves out this book from the detail report of the activities of the workshop, which he planned and implemented with the help of IIMC. The book would principally serve two purposes: leisurely reading for common reader and in-depth reading for academicians, development planners and development practitioners. The reader of leisurely reading would find the book as an interesting story that has smooth, unambiguous flow from the beginning to the end. On the other hand, the academicians have the opportunity to find authentic references on voluntary service or voluntarism. The development planner can use the information in the book in planning 'People-Centred' or 'Bottom-Up' development plan and strategy. And, the development practitioners may use the book as a 'handbook' or a 'guideline' for their day to day work with the people.