How to be Profitable by being Non Profitable

Major part of the beginning of this year I have spent in a hospital. Needless to say besides being emotionally sapping it sapped me financially. While I used to go and pay the bill everyday at the cash counter, I could see so many patients being asked to leave because they could not pay, or asked to go to municipal hospitals etc. What I clearly remember is the look of anguish and pain on the relative’s face whose ward /relation was admitted. One young boy who had come from a nearby village to Mumbai told me, he had to sell all his land just to keep his father in the ICU. After one month he lost his father and all his asset. What I am saying is nothing new, if you have been to a hospital for a stretch you know all this is a reality.So please hear me out when I talk about a venture which has made its place in my heart and I am sure also in the hearts of 40 lakh Indians. The venture is none other then Sampoorna Suraksha, a self sustaining, profitable but not for profit venture under the able guidance of Dr.Manjunath.

“Sampoorna Suraksha” Or Total Security is a Welfare scheme to give financial assistance/ health insurance  to the health problems of poor/rural poor people necessitating hospitalization. It is a unique programme where in all the participants join together to bring security to their insecure life during ailment/accident.

At present this facility is available to the members and their families of SHGs promoted by SKDRDP in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts of Karnataka. Its unique in various ways

How does it work?

All the members of SKDRDP participate in this programme by contributing an annual subscription. A part of the total subscription amount is invested for reinsurance in Insurance company to look after the hospitalization expenses and for providing “cashless treatment” in designated hospitals. The remaining amount is used to reimburse delivery expenses, to provide consolation amount during the death of the head of the family and damage to houses during natural calamities, to give rest allowance during domiciliary treatment of stake holder.

I had a chance to meet Dr.Manjunath at Sociopreneurship 2010 and his spark and passion was infectious. This reinforced my theory that people who are driven to make a difference have a different kind of personality. He advised the young social entrepreneurs to live their story in every possible way – how you communicate, how you dress, how you relate to your audience, be undeterred and stand for something. He has shown a way to all of us.. Dr.Manjunath lives the story of how to be profitable by being not for profit.

Please don’t forget to share if you have an inspiring story or if you know of someone who is living the difference.

Also do you think you can be profitable and make a difference?

Shradha Sharma