Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

2022-01-09T16:09:42Z

122.173.54.203:

{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}{{Advert|date=July 2020}} }}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
| logo =
| type = Charitable Institution ([[Tax exemption|exemption status]]): 80(g)<ref name=reftax/>
| founded_date = 21 June 1991
| headquarters = New Delhi
| location = Jawahar Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad road, [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| key_people = [[Sonia Gandhi]], [[Chairperson]] [[Manmohan Singh]], [[Trustee]] [[P. Chidambaram]], [[Trustee]] [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Trustee]] [[Priyanka Gandhi Vadra]], [[Trustee]] [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Trustee]]
| area_served = [[India]]
| focus = [[Education]], [[Disability]], [[Natural resource management]], [[Libraries]]
| method = Direct Implementation, Grant Making, Working with Partner Organizations
| homepage = [http://www.rgfindia.org/ www.rgfindia.org]
}}
[[File:Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi at The Doon School.jpg|thumb|alt=Rajiv Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi|302x302px|Rajiv Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi at [[The Doon School]] Founder's Day in the 1970s]]{{Rajiv Gandhi series}}
The '''Rajiv Gandhi Foundation''' was established on 21 June 1991. The foundation works on a range of issues including literacy, health, disability, empowerment of the underprivileged, livelihoods and natural resource management. Its current focus areas are community welfare, [[Literacy in India|literacy]], health and special programmes for children and women.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=September 15, 1994|author=MADHU JAIN|title=Confident Sonia Gandhi streamlines Rajiv Gandhi Foundation programme|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19940915-confident-sonia-gandhi-streamlines-rajiv-gandhi-foundation-programme-810195-1994-09-15|access-date=2020-08-04|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible to the extent of 50 percent under section 80G of the Income Tax Act.<ref name="reftax">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Indian Tax clause 80G allows tax savings through donation|url=http://80g.in|access-date=|website=80G}}</ref>

The foundation is headed by [[Sonia Gandhi]], who is also the leader of the [[Indian National Congress]] Party.

== History ==
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was set up to carry forward the legacy of former Prime Minister of India [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. The Jawahar Bhawan Trust, led by Sonia Gandhi met in July, 1991 and passed a resolution inviting the Foundation to work in the Jawahar Bhawan.<ref>{{Cite web|author=YUBARAJ GHIMIRE|date=July 15, 1992|title=Jawahar Bhawan in New Delhi is as controversial as it is ugly|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19920715-jawahar-bhawan-in-new-delhi-is-as-controversial-as-it-is-ugly-766555-2013-01-02|access-date=2020-08-04|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> 
The Foundation constituted a group of 8 founding Trustees. They were Dr. [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]], [[Sonia Gandhi]], [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Priyanka Gandhi]], [[Amitabh Bachchan]], Suman Dubey, N.K.Seshan and Sunil Nehru. In 1992, [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], [[P. Chidambaram]], [[V. Krishnamurthy]], [[Sam Pitroda]], Dr. Sekhar Raha, [[Mani Shankar Aiyar]], [[Montek Singh Ahluwalia]] and [[R. P. Goenka]]{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} were also inducted as Trustees.<ref name=inception>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rajiv-gandhi-foundation-established-with-sonia-gandhi-as-chairperson/1/318521.html|title=Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Established with Sonia Gandhi as Chairperson|publisher=India Today}}</ref>

== Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) ==
[[File:Nelson Mandela at RGF.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Nelson Mandela speaking at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture]]
In August 1991, the Foundation setup Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS) to provide research based ideas, analysis, policy and practical programmes into contemporary issues. RGICS programmes cover economic reform, science and technology, social issues, public affairs and international relations. The Institute organises conferences, lectures, workshops, short studies and projects and invites experts to lend their insight into the contemporary issues. It also encourages research scholars, scientists, economists and social scientists to undertake projects which can provide inputs towards policy framing and decision making.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} Some of the speakers include [[Robert McNamara]],<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Robert S. McNamara Papers|url=http://rs5.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2011/ms011085.pdf|access-date=|website=|page=30}}</ref> [[Nelson Mandela]],<ref>{{Cite web|author1=HARINDER BAWEJA|date =January 31, 1995|title=Helped by advisers, Sonia Gandhi presides over a virtual empire of trusts and committees|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19950131-helped-by-advisers-sonia-gandhi-presides-over-a-virtual-empire-of-trusts-and-committees-808340-1995-01-31|access-date=2020-08-02|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> [[Hillary Clinton]],{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} and [[Edward Said]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=Ajay|date=1997-12-17|title=Palestines Soldier Of Word And Passion|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/palestines-soldier-of-word-and-passion-197121701019_1.html|access-date=2020-08-02}}</ref>

== Initiatives taken ==

=== Education ===
* In the [[Yakutpura]] slum area of Hyderabad where 400 muslim girls were enrolled into schools in collaboration with Mahita, a local agency.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=DNA|date=2008-08-20|title=RGF in Pursuit of Rajiv Gandhi's Vision and Ideals|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rgf-in-pursuit-of-rajiv-gandhi-s-vision-and-ideals-1184480|access-date=2020-08-04|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>
* In 2007-08, the Foundation launched Vidyagyan scholarship program in collaboration with the Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar Educational and Charitable Trust{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} in select districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It focused on very poor Muslim and lower caste girl children in classes 6 to 10. Around 1500 girl children in classes 6 to 9 were supported through this scholarship programme.<ref name=":1" />
* [[Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi]] scholarship is given to two women pilot trainees at the institute every year.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Courses in Civil Aviation|url=http://rojgar.uk.gov.in/pages/view/22/40-courses-in-civil-aviation|access-date=|website=Directorate of Training & Employment, Govt. of Uttarakhand (India)}}</ref>
* Traveling scholarships to students from various British universities were given to visit India during their vacations as part of undergraduate or graduate studies.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
* The Teachers Empowerment Programme was initiated to provide extensive training in the District Institute of Education & Training (DIET), Titabor in Jorhat district in Assam. It was also extended for school teachers of Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
* Decentralization of Education Governance was launched in 2010. It is a way to devolve power systematically to primary stake holders empowering them to participate in the decision making process, and structurally alter the process of planning and decision making within the entire education system.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

=== Health ===
* In 1993, RGF launched an [[HIV/AIDS]] prevention awareness campaign India. On Worlds AIDS Day in 2009, Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Foundation flagged off Red Ribbon Express. Over the years, the Foundation has partnered with a number of organisations and conducted workshops for General Medical practitioners and NGOs to create awareness on how to prevent and control AIDS.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
*In 2012 ,RGF have conducted 800 heart surgeries with the help of AGS charity and then congress leader's.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

== Ongoing initiatives ==
=== Access to opportunities ===
The Foundation enables physically challenged young people to access better opportunities by awarding motorised vehicles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Twenty Motorized Vehicles Distributed to People with Disability through Rajiv Gandhi Foundation|url=http://www.aaina.org.in/newsdetails.asp?id=4&subid=16&newsid=30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Freedom on wheels! Rajiv Gandhi Foundation distributes three-wheelers to disabled people - Volume 3 Issue 17: Disability News and Information Service for India|url=https://www.dnis.org/news.php?issue_id=17&volume_id=3&news_id=513&i=8|access-date=2020-08-04|website=www.dnis.org}}</ref> It was initiated with the support of corporate bodies and concerned individuals in 1992 and has helped over 2400 individuals access higher education and attain financial independence. {{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

=== Interact ===
The Interact scholarship program supports children affected by conflict across the country. After 2005, it included another 160 children affected by the tsunami in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. As of 2016, the Foundation supports 2086 children across Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Puducherry and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In addition to scholarships, on-going psycho-social support, orientation in and exposure to, various professions, placements, academic support, and internships are also provided.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===Natural resource management===

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has been working on issues of livelihoods and Natural Resource Management since 2001.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> This programme was implemented in backward villages in Jaipur, Pali and Karoli districts of Rajasthan which faced serious environmental degradation. A third party evaluation revealed the significant impact in the lives of the targeted families.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} In order to scale up this transformative work, RGF set up Gram Gaurav on 19 December 2011. Gram Gaurav currently works in 74 villages located in Dang region of Karauli and Dholpur districts to augment water resources, conserve soil and enhance agriculture production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/an-insight-into-the-rajiv-gandhi-foundation/article1-243303.aspx|title=An Insight into the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== Rajiv Gandhi Cambridge Scholarship ===
The Foundation, in collaboration with Cambridge Commonwealth Trust offers two scholarships for Indian students to pursue [[MPhil]] and [[Master of Laws|LLM]] at the University of Cambridge.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Rajiv Gandhi Foundation|url=https://www.cambridgetrust.org/partners/rajiv-gandhi-foundation-india|access-date=|website=Cambridge Trust}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/ishtihaar/docs/rgf_annual_report|title=Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Annual Report 2006-07}}</ref>

=== Libraries ===
Since 1993, the Foundation has set up 1648 libraries in villages and slums across 22 states in India. In 2013, RGF partnered with [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]] and worked with the public libraries in Barabanki and Rai Bareilly districts of Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/rgf.pdf|title=Beyond the Primer by Arvind gupta}}</ref><ref name=interact1>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFCjniBF9s8C&q=rajiv+gandhi+foundation+village+libraries&pg=PA193|title=Electoral Politics and General Elections in India, 1952-1998|isbn=9788170997115|last1=Ahuja|first1=M. L.|year=1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Amway Opportunity Foundation partners Rajiv Gandhi Foundation|url=https://www.businesswireindia.com/amway-opportunity-foundation-partners-rajiv-gandhi-foundation-304.html|access-date=2020-08-04|website=www.businesswireindia.com}}</ref> It plans to open a library in each village of India.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Patel, Jashu, 1939-|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KXVrsPSzeNAC&q=rajiv+gandhi+foundation+village+libraries&pg=PA86|title=Libraries and librarianship in India|date=2001|publisher=Greenwood Press|others=Krishan Kumar, 1933-|isbn=0-313-00714-4|location=Westport, Conn.|pages=86|oclc=51551058}}</ref>

=== Transformative learning===
The Foundation has been working with ten partners across the country to introduce a capability based learning approach for children. This initiative has focused on redefining the assessment frameworks and learning approach and focusing on continuous comprehensive evaluation. A cluster approach has been adopted in selecting schools (covering 15-20 schools in a cluster) and works on capacity building of teachers.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

== Controversies ==
In 1991, [[Manmohan Singh]] the then [[Minister of Finance]] had tried to allocate the Foundation a sum of 100 crore rupees. The Budget Speech of 1991-92 by [[Manmohan Singh]] presented on July 24, 1991 has the detail.

"As a homage to the late Shri [[Rajiv Gandhi]] and in support of the laudable objectives of the Foundation, Government has decided to contribute Rs 100 crore to the Foundation at the rate of Rs 20 crores per annum for a period of five years beginning from the current year," the then Finance Minister said in the Budget speech.

After huge political uproar, the decision was overturned. In the subsequent discussions that followed, [[Manmohan Singh]] had read a letter from the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, that stated that the Foundation appreciates the generous sum but it thinks that the government should itself invest the funds in suitable projects.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=STATEMENT BY MINISTER FUNDS EARNMARKED FOR RAJIV GANDHI FOUNDATION IN THE GENERAL BUDGET 1991-9|url=https://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses1/14020891.htm|access-date=2020-08-02|website=parliamentofindia.nic.in}}</ref>

The [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] government led by Congress has also been accused of diverting funds from [[Prime Minister's National Relief Fund]] to the foundation while members of the Gandhi family and other senior Congress leaders sat on both board.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2020-06-26|title=Rajiv Gandhi Foundation got funds from PMNRF during UPA regime, says BJP chief Nadda|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajiv-gandhi-foundation-got-funds-from-pmnrf-during-upa-regime-says-bjp-chief-nadda/article31921071.ece|access-date=2020-08-02|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2020-07-08|title=Home Ministry sets up panel to coordinate probe into 3 Gandhi family trusts|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/home-ministry-sets-up-panel-to-coordinate-probe-into-3-gandhi-family-trusts/story-KpJkxlJqXIUUhLVwzvq2oN.html|access-date=2020-08-04|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

In 2005-6 and 2007-8, while Congress led UPA was in power, it received funds from several ministries, [[Public sector banks in India|public sector banks]] and [[Public sector undertakings in India|PSUs]].<ref name=":3" />

It have also been criticised for receiving funds from Sonia Gandhi led [[Prime Minister's National Relief Fund|PMNRF]], a fund set up by public donations.<ref name=":3" />

In September 2016, the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]] alleged that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had received donations from [[Zakir Naik]] in 2011 despite the government having had expressed security concern with regard to Naik’s [[Peace TV|TV channel]].<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2016-09-10|title=Zakir Naik's donation to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation a bribe, says BJP|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Zakir-Naik%E2%80%99s-donation-to-Rajiv-Gandhi-Foundation-a-bribe-says-BJP/article14640075.ece|access-date=2020-08-02|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Later, a congress spokesperson claimed that the Rs 50 lakhs were returned.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelhiSeptember 9|first1=Anindya Banerjee New|last2=September 10|first2=2016UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2016 10:50|title=Zakir Naik gave Rajiv Gandhi trust Rs 50 lakh. Congress says returned, Naik says no|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sonia-rajiv-gandhi-foundation-zakir-naik-islamic-research-foundation-340231-2016-09-09|access-date=2020-08-02|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

In June 2020, the BJP accused the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation of accepting a donation of $300,000 from China during 2005-06 which congress claims that is in response to the Congress' criticisms of the government's handling of the [[2020 China–India skirmishes|2020 Ladakh standoff]], and questioned whether it was a “bribe” for lobbying for a free trade agreement between India and China which, according to [[Ravi Shankar Prasad]], lead to a 33% increase in trade deficit between India and China under the congress government.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2020-06-25|title=Rajiv Gandhi Foundation को funding करता है China|url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zee-hindustan/video/china-funded-rajiv-gandhi-foundation/701628|access-date=2020-08-04|website=Zee Hindustan|language=Hindi, English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Varma,Anuja|first=Gyan|date=2020-06-25|title=BJP says Rajiv Gandhi Foundation took money from China|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/bjp-says-rajiv-gandhi-foundation-took-money-from-china-11593088280259.html|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Livemint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2020-06-25|title=Ladakh face-off {{!}} BJP attacks Congress over Chinese funds|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajiv-gandhi-foundation-got-funds-from-china-bjp/article31916374.ece|access-date=2020-08-02|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=PLA front CAIFC which made donations to Sonia Gandhi-led Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was under FBI's radar|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pla-front-caifc-which-made-donations-to-sonia-gandhi-led-rajiv-gandhi-foundation-was-under-fbis-radar/612563|access-date=2020-08-02|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref> The foundation also had links to a Chinese [[United Front (China)|united front]] organization called the [[China Association for International Friendly Contact]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=Sentinel Digital|date=2020-06-27|title=Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had links with the Chinese Embassy - Sentinelassam|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/national-news/rajiv-gandhi-foundation-had-links-with-the-chinese-embassy-485163|access-date=2020-08-02|website=www.sentinelassam.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-27|title=ख़ुफ़िया चीनी संस्था संग राजीव गांधी फाउंडेशन की मिली-भगत का खुलासा|url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zee-hindustan/national/association-of-rajiv-gandhi-foundation-with-chinas-intelligence-organization/702348|access-date=2020-08-04|website=Zee Hindustan}}</ref>

An inter-ministerial committee have been set up to look into allegations at the 3 [[Nehru–Gandhi family|Nehru-Gandhi family]] trusts - RGF, [[Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust]] and the [[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust]] all of which are leadby Sonia Gandhi.<ref name=":3" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Foundations based in India]]
[[Category:Memorials to Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Social welfare charities]]

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Rajiv Gandhi Foundation