We’ve already had these discussions to death on previous posts. Go check them out for the debate. I had to close all of them as well.

As for me, I’d give my money to Asha.

Read more about ASHA and its co-conspirators such AID here http://www.geocities.com/aid_india_info/AID_DOC.html http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2005/02/aid-charity-or-terrorist-front.html http://www.india-forum.com/Columns/Veera_Vaishnava/Terror_AID/26/

this quote somes up the ASHA:

“Sandeep Pandey’s ASHA is US based and collects US $ for his boondongles in Pakistan but still claims that “USA is the biggest evil power on earth”" Not so non-politcal afterall.

I used to be naive and think so as well. What the fresh-off-the-boat-desperate-to-find-significant-other idealists in the US campus don’t realize is the fact that ASHA dollars directly fund non-social purposes.

Be it funding Naxals who bomb civil structures on regular basis and kill cops or sponsoring Sandeep Pandey’s “peace trips” to Pakistan where $5000 was shown as expense against taxi ride from Delhi to Wagah border which as the most you can spend 2000 RUPEES.

The local ASHA chapters are quick to point out that they are apolitical blah blah, but ultimately money is NOT well spent and is used for useless purposes. Other than acting as dating service for homesick desi grad students ASHA serves no other purpose and it is time to stop patronizing them.