The Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mrs Sushma Swaraj chaired the Fifth Meeting of the Board of Trustees of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians IDF-OI in New Delhi yesterday. She is the Chairperson of (IDF-OI), a not-for-profit Trust set-up by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to facilitate philanthropic contributions by overseas Indians to social and development projects in India.

The Board reviewed the progress made by IDF-OI on the revised mandate given in the last Board Meeting in May 23, 2015 i.e. to promote among the overseas Indians the flagship programmes of Government of India- Swachh Bharat Mission and National Mission for Clean Ganga; projects identified by the State Governments; and donor advised projects.

IDF-OI informed the Board that under the Swachh Bharat Mission, overseas Indians were invited to fund construction of household, community and public toilets in both urban and rural areas. IDF has also invited contributions for the National Mission for Clean Ganga. In response to IDF-OI’s request, several State Governments have identified social and development projects in their respective states in areas such as sanitation; education; drinking water; women’s empowerment etc which are available for funding through IDF OI.

The Board Meeting was attended by prominent Indians and NRIs including Shri Yusuff Ali, Shri Subhash Jindal, Dr. B.K. Agnihotri, Shri Ashok Chowgule, Ms. RituBeri and Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak.Senior Officials from Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, NITI Aayog and Finance were also present.