The Overseas Indian Affairs and External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj chaired the Fourth Meeting of the Board of Trustees India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) in Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan New Delhi today.  The Secretary, Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Sunil Soni was also be present in the meeting.

The Board of Trustees of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, present in the meeting included,

Smt. Vani Rao, Joint Secretary (Financial Services), Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

Dr. Bhishma Kumar Agnihotri, President, Friends of India Society International & Chairman, Bharat Swabhiman Overseas

Mr. Joginder Pal Sanger, Chairman, Mastcraft Limited UK

Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A., Managing Director, Lulu Group

Ms. Ritu Beri, Managing Director, Ritu Beri Designs

Ashok Vishwasrao Chowgule, Joint Managing Director, Chowgule and Co. Pvt Ltd

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak Founder, Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement.

The India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) is a not for profit Trust established to serve as a credible institutional avenue to enable overseas Indians to engage in philanthropy to supplement India’s social development efforts. IDF-OI channelises the philanthropic propensities and resources of the overseas Indian community into national development and social projects.

The Trust has a two-tier structure comprising the Board of Trustees and the Executive Directorate. The Foundation is chaired by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs.

The broad objectives of the Trust are:

1. Lead overseas Indian philanthropy into India and facilitate partnerships through single window facilitation and by building philanthropic partnerships.

2. Establish and maintain a ‘Social Capital and Philanthropy Network’ on India that can provide a list of credible institutions, projects and programmes.

3. Function as a clearing house for all philanthropy related information on India.

4. Partner with and encourage credible philanthropic organisations in the sectors that best match need based philanthropy.

5. Promote accountability and ‘good practices’ in overseas Indian philanthropy.

IDF-OI is partnering with international, national and state level NGOs as well as State Governments and local self government institutions, for effective implementation. 33 NGOs (Non- Governmental Organizations who are FCRA approved by MHA) from 7 States have officially confirmed their participation to IDF- OI with their projects. These projects cover a wide gamut of activities such as skills development, local self governance, education for children, health initiatives, sustainable agriculture and livelihood creation, vocational training programmes, programmes for visually challenged and differently abled children among others. Besides these, State Governments have also confirmed their participation to IDF-OI. Since 2011, IDF-OI has helped in channelizing contributions from overseas donors towards social development projects in Assam, Rajasthan and Gujarat in the areas of water conservation, rainwater harvesting, educating and mainstreaming differently abled children, women’s education and sustainable livelihood.

The meeting of the Board of Trustees decided the action plan for FY 2015-16, which focuses on various Projects including collaboration with Govt. of India’s flagship programmes like Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat and Swachh Vidyalaya, State Governments projects and NGO projects and Projects selected by the NRI/PIO donors. Modalities like Implementation of projects and Quality control, Monitoring and reporting to donors were also deliberated and given go-ahead by the board of trustees. The Board also deliberated on the Outreach plan for FY 2015-16.

For the Outreach Plan for FY 2015-16, IDF-OI proposes to hold outreach meeting wherein overseas Indians will be informed about the activities of the organization and projects will be posed for funding. These meetings will have to be done in association with our Missions/ Posts, as also in the various Indian associations active abroad. Focus can be given to areas where there is large concentration of overseas Indians with philanthropic propensities. For this purpose, IDF-OI has identified 7 global zones of diaspora concentration. It proposes to conduct 2-3 meetings in different cities in each of these zones in this financial year.

1. North America- a) USA b) Canada

2. South East Asia- a) Malaysia b) Singapore c) Mauritius d) Reunion Island e) Indonesia

 3. Australasia- a) Australia b) New Zealand c) Fiji

4. Africa- a) South Africa b) Kenya c) Uganda

5. Gulf- a) UAE b) Saudi Arabia c) Bahrain d) Oman e) Qatar f) Kuwait

6. UK & Europe- a) UK b) France c) Germany d) Italy e) Netherlands

7. South America & Caribbean- a) Guyana b) Suriname c) Trinidad & Tobago

Besides the above, IDF-OI will participate in State diaspora events for outreach to Indian Diaspora. It will also reach out to the diaspora through the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the Ministry’s outreach events throughout the year.

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YSKataria/MOIA