Pranav Sontakke, a banker from Maharashtra’s Amravati district, has shown that one doesn’t need pots of money to give back to society.
Growing up in a modest household, his schoolteacher parents had instilled in him the belief that true wealth isn’t measured in money, but in the ability to give.
“We’re not rich, but we’ve always been content with what we had,” says the 33-year-old. His journey into philanthropy began almost by accident, five years ago, during a govt fellowship programme, when he worked on India’s first Digital Village project. It was there that he saw first-hand the power of education to transform communities.
“Education empowers people,” he says, “and for tribals, it’s a way to uplift entire communities.” Even with a steady job, Sontakke couldn’t forget the families he’d worked with. So, he started channelling his earnings into setting up free libraries and coaching centres for tribal students.
Then there’s Gurgaon-based Parag Agarwal, who, after a long career in the corporate sector, including a stint as an adviser at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, felt increasingly drawn to social causes.
“Maybe it was my exposure to Buddhism and meditation. Also, the suffering of children always troubled me,” he reflects, remembering how he would drive past children begging on the streets with his son beside him. “I knew I had to do something for them.”
Agarwal went on to start a foundation focused on education for disadvantaged children before a shift in perspective that led him to champion the cause of animal welfare, after he watched videos shared by his niece on the treatment of animals in dairy and leather industries. “It felt like a neglected cause, and I knew I needed to do more to protect animals,” he says.
The Good Samaritan streaks in both Sontakke and Agarwal were fuelled by this community called
Living My Promise
(LMP) that encourages Indians with a net worth of Rs 1 crore or more to pledge at least 50% of their wealth to causes close to their hearts.
In 2019, Sontakke and Agarwal joined LMP. Sontakke’s foundation now supports schools with water coolers and digital boards and has helped tribal students secure spots in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, to prevent migration from disrupting their education.
Meanwhile, Agarwal is determined to bring both capital and talent into creating an ecosystem where “animals are treated with the same respect as humans,” he says.
As Gunjan Thaney, head of LMP puts it: “We want to show that anyone can give back and make a real impact.” She described how the idea quickly snowballed into a movement by word of mouth and a mutual belief in giving back. The stories of early members struck a chord and now there are 154 of them, going beyond the typical philanthropist circles.
“The inspiration for LMP came from Warren Buffet and Bill Gates’ The Giving Pledge, which focuses on billionaires committing to give away most of their wealth. But LMP had a different approach. Conceived by founding promisor Girish Batra and four #DaanUtsav volunteers, it aimed to democratise philanthropy for both beginners and the seasoned,” explains Thaney.
Unlike traditional philanthropy, LMP thrives on connections, not corporate structures. “The pledge isn’t legally binding, but a personal commitment to support causes of their choice, either during their lifetime or through their will. Once they join, members become part of a community and are encouraged to share their story publicly to inspire others,” says Thaney.
“For most, it’s about wanting to give back in a way that goes beyond just providing for our families,” says Thaney.
Interestingly, more than half — around 52% — of LMP members are women, many of whom have made this philanthropic pledge independent of their partners.
“These women come from all walks of life and may or may not be single, but what sets them apart is their determination to take control of their finances and philanthropic journey,” Thaney adds.
While LMP doesn’t directly suggest causes or organisations, it does connect members to NGOs based on their specific interests — only when they request it.
The initiative is careful to remain non-judgmental and refrains from suggesting where to give or which organisations are ‘better.’ The idea is to respect the autonomy and personal motivations of each promisor.
One of the standout efforts within the LMP community is the Bundelkhand Integrated Village Development initiative that tackles rural challenges in Uttar Pradesh head-on.
Over two years, promisors have supported education for underprivileged children, introduced sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry, and developed a model village in Gaurahari, focused on women empowerment, skillbuilding, and healthcare.
Some members have also co-created platforms such as Dolphin Tank (on the lines of Shark Tank) that gives micro grants to inspiring stories and led to unexpected partnerships with NGOs working on education, healthcare, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
In 2021, Rs 24 lakhs from LMP’s Dolphin Tank helped launch a project with Navoday Foundation in Assam’s Tamulpur district —training women in mushroom cultivation. What started with 200 women, earning Rs 19.2 lakhs collectively, has now grown to 1,200 women, who together earn a staggering Rs 1.2 crore every month, totalling Rs 14 crore annually.
(Know about any such inspiring story? Share it with us at changebegins-here@timesofindia.com)
