The distinctive characteristic of the Tata Trusts is that they have always borne the human aspect in mind
The word `philanthropy', according to JRD Tata, means much more than mere charity. The distinctive characteristic of the Tata Trusts is that they have always borne the human aspect in mind. The smallest grant made by the Trusts, one year, was Rs 125 for a pair of spectacles for a poor man who could not otherwise afford it. For that man it meant the difference between light and darkness.
By this time, Tata philanthropy had almost patented a professional, secular and "arms-length" approach to philanthropy. Also by this time, they recognised the need for a more structured approach to their activities and a deeper understanding of the issues involved. Who the project would benefit and how, whether it would be sustainable in the long run or not, all these had become unavoidable questions. Over time, reaching out to the unreached and providing succour to the needy, the unfortunate and the disenfranchised became as important a goal as building up the best had been in Jamsetji's time.
[This article has been reproduced with permission from the Indian School of Business, India]