Govt to discuss ways to engage diaspora in philanthropic activities

Overseas Indian Affairs and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will chair a meeting of the Board of Trustees of India Development Foundation which is likely to discuss ways to enhance engagement of the diaspora community in philanthropic activities in India.

The India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) is a not-for-profit trust established in 2008 by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to serve as a credible institutional avenue to enable overseas Indians to engage in philanthropy to supplement India’s social development efforts.

The Board comprises four eminent overseas Indians, four eminent resident Indians and senior officials from the Ministries of External Affairs, Home, Finance and NITI <g data-gr-id="16">Aayog</g>. IDF-OI has helped in channelising 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.