#78: Neha Rachel Abraham: Music, Cooperatives, Poverty, Religion

Reuben's Podcast

Neha's spent the last decade working on the problem of poverty alleviation. Here's a note from her highlighting 9 things we can do to help. Addressing inequalities around us doesn’t necessarily mean making large donations. Here are some simple things we can do to support less privileged friends and colleagues: 1. Listen to ideas and help develop and strengthen them. Also, be open to sharing ideas. 2. Share constructive, strategic feedback— this can be related to writing applications/CVs, preparing for interviews, language skills, making presentations, pitches, or writing proposals 3. Give them access to your networks (this can include sharing job opportunities, funding opportunities, connects to influential people) 4. Be open to sharing tacit knowledge & skills, industry insights gained through experience, and your own social capital. 5. For researchers - It’s useful to first acknowledge how extractive the knowledge creation industry is. Co-create knowledge and share ideas with people involved in your research. 6. Offer your time to mentor young students or local researchers involved in your projects. Try to share authorship wherever possible. 7. Help young students and professionals access opportunities for exposure. If you’re in a position of leadership, help create opportunities for such exposure. 8. If you’re hiring someone based on mandates for affirmative action- make sure there is an enabling environment and opportunity for them to gain or upgrade required skills so that they can become competent and perform. Hold these employees accountable, just like anyone else. Without accountability and a support system, you do a disservice to them and yourself. 9. If you have to fire someone who is not performing, strongly affirm their strengths and offer to be in touch. Share other openings and help with recommendations. If you don’t think you can give a good recommendation, take the time to politely let them know why. Chapters 00:00-DJ Reuben 02:40-Neha's past decade 05:00-Favorite memory from St. Stephen's College 09:50-Rajasthan Folk Music and Ethnomusicology 17:20-Kathputli Colony 22:50-Realizations about poverty 26:30-Dealing with burnout, compassion fatigue and guilt 34:50-How can privileged people help 43:20-Urban Fellow Program 50:30-Challenges while working with the government 56:10-What drives donors 1:04:00-Relationship with religion 1:13:30-Power of Collectives 1:20:57-SEWA and building women leaders 1:34:00-Challenges with SEWA and collectives 1:37:00-India's growth and inequality 1:44:50-Shifts in belief 1:46:50-2 pieces of advice 1:51:30-Question for Reuben 1:56:50-Wrapping up Support the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reubenn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Neha's Socials Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/neharachelabraham/ Reuben's Socials Subscribe to the newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reubenspodcast.substack.com⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reubenspodcast/