The FACT-Free A Child Today corporate quiz, which is organised by ChildRelief and You (CRY), evoked such an enthusiastic response in its secondyear that employees of American Express, New Delhi, had to conduct anin-house competition to select their team. ``The number of participantsincreased from 30 to 36 this year. The response from corporate India hasbeen tremendous. In fact, Hughes Software, the main sponsors for 2000 haveexpressed willingness to sponsor similar efforts in all the metros. We havealready held similar quizzes in Chennai, Calcutta and Bangalore,'' says ViceAdmiral H Johnson, advisor with CRY.

In 1999, Maruti Udyog had emerged the winner beating American Express andSmithkline Beecham. This year the team of Satyakam, Kamaljeet and Anirbanfrom Cadence Design Systems, emerged on top beating Ravi Prakash, SiddharthaRoy Chaudhary and Bashuman Deve of Hughes Software Systems, and Guy Narona,Pankaj Thapar and Gautam Ghosh from Coca Cola.

The quiz is a prominent event in the NGO's calendar of activities and seeksto bring corporates together on one platform to bring about a change in thelives of underprivileged children. The questions, based on corporateaffairs, advertising and general knowledge were posed by ace quizmasterSiddharth Basu at New Delhi's British Council Library.

`It is a novel concept in that it works toward increasing the awareness ofthe companies about efforts being made in child welfare in the country. Theparticipants were well-informed and the format was interesting. The Cadenceteam was very sharp,'' observed Basu, who did not charge any fees for theevent.

Each of the 36 teams shelled out Rs 7,300 for participation in the quiz.``This translates into a revenue of more than Rs two lakh for child welfare.Besides Hughes Escorts, the quizzers and even the audience won specialprizes sponsored by Country Inn resorts, Club Mahindra Holidays, Hot Breads,Enchante Jewellery, Cidade De Goa, Bistro, PC Quest, Ray Ban, TeksonBookshop, The Park and Le Meridien hotels,'' adds Johnson.

CRY is an Indian registered Public Charitable Trust, established in 1979.``We are committed to working for neglected Indian children to restore theirbasic rights to food, shelter, health and education. It is ourresponsibility to initiate and bring about a change for the better in thelives of these children. FACT 2000 is just one such effort, where corporateshave come together, whether as sponsors or as participants to raise fundsfor realising the dream of Indian children,'' says Johnson.

Hughes Escorts joined the cause and chipped in with the main sponsorshipmoney of Rs one lakh for two reasons. ``In the knowledge economy of today,we want to create an environment that fosters learning. That is why wedecided to back this quiz that also serves another important motive: takingcare of thousands of ragpickers, bonded labourers, slum children, physicallyand mentally handicapped children, children of sex workers or those livingin utter deprivation and neglect,'' says Shashi Ullal, president andmanaging director, Hughes Escorts Communications Limited.

CRY's efforts have consistently got the backing of supporters in India bothat an organisational and individual level, according to Johnson. ``Reputedartists like Jagjit Singh, Anjolie Ela Menon and Bulbul Sharma have helpedus in the recent past. There is direct project funding for 328 CRY projectsfrom corporate India and traditional donors like the Tatas have alsorecognised our efforts recently with a donation of Rs one crore,'' saysJohnson.

Though the content of the quiz never speaks about child welfare, the eventhas done its bit to bring the issue in focus, says Basu. ``It brings thedisparate communities of the resourceful and underprivileged childrentogether,'' he sums up.