Once an NGO had to show some social service that had to do some social service under social service obligation. It was the month of December means the month of winter. Under this compulsion, the NGO announced that it will distribute blankets to the slum dwellers. In slums, it will get a large number of needy people easily. For publicity and propaganda, the NGO hired two cameramen and few media reporters.
The announcement was made with the help of media reporters. A large number of people - old, men, women and children - reached and stood in a row. The blanket bags were brought out for distribution. The poor people started to get restless to get the gift. Seeing this, the NGO activists panicked. There was almost a riot type lawlessness.
Seeing this, a shrewd activist played a trick. He announced that the dirty water from their 'juggis' was accumulating dirt and mud in the streets and it became the breeding ground for mosquitoes and spreading various diseases like dengue, viral fever, diarrhoea etc. in the slum colony. So, the people who would connect their dirty water outlet drain with the main drain built by the municipality will get a blanket after the inspection of their 'juggi'.
Hearing this announcement, almost half the crowd vanished very fast cursing the distributors for wasting their time. But again a large number of slum dwellers stayed back in the hope of getting the free blanket without cleaning/connecting their drains. When the distributors noticed that the slum dwellers are not interested to keep their illegal slum colony clean, they announced another but somewhat easy task. They announced that if they wanted to get free blankets, they should first clean the streets in front of their 'juggis'.
Instead of accepting the task happily, again almost half of the slum dwellers left the site whispering abuses and curses against the distributers for fooling them for their hidden task. Seeing the behaviour of the slum dwellers, the NGO activists were baffled. But, still, they have less count of blankets in comparison to the crowd jeering them. This time a stylish activist woman, donning a big 'bindi' on her forehead, applying a heavy layer of 'kajal' in her eyes, speaking half English and wrong Hindi, announced that 'Bhaiyya', we would come to see the cleanliness inside of your 'juggis'. Only those whose 'juggi' was found clean, would get a blanket each. Go-clean your 'juggi'.
All the slum dwellers left the site making bewildering gestures towards the NGO activists and reporters. Cameramen were taking photographs as per the directions given to them. Fifteen minutes passed, half an hour passed; one hour passed. The afternoon passed, the evening passed; night approached. Nobody came to show their clean 'juggi' and collect the blanket. This time the distributers, cameramen and the reporters grew restless, fearing the snatching and mob looting. " Why are not the slum-dwellers arrived as promised?" they wanted a reply.
The answer they got was least convincing: because they want everything served before them i.e. without doing anything!
Now it was the turn of the distributors to get restless. The 'artificial munificent donors' were restless to have their photograph taken in act of distributing the free blankets to make a headline and get a good 'grading' for their NGO.
Until the slum-dwellers arrived, they could show the world their generosity.
Suddenly, the street light failed. Fearing for their safety, the group decided to go back. They turned back to collect their belongings. To their bewilderment and fear, the big load of the blanket was not there.
The game of generosity was over without any photograph and show.
Dogs started to bark at them as if they were asking for the blankets in those cold - windy nights as they could not steal the blankets.
Far in the dark of night, a Maulvi was blaring on a loudspeaker 'Allah-hu-Akbar,' inviting all the 'bhakts' for 'Roza Iftar feast.
The crowd ran towards the mosque.
