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{{Advert|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
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|founder=[[Sonia Gandhi]], [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Priyanka Gandhi]]
|founder=[[Sonia Gandhi]], [[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Priyanka Gandhi]]
|location=[[Delhi]], [[India]]
|location=[[Delhi]], [[India]]
|key_people=[[Sonia Gandhi]], [[Chairperson]] <br/> [[Deep Joshi]], [[chief executive officer|CEO]]
|key_people=[[Sonia Gandhi]], [[Chairperson]] <br /> [[Deep Joshi]], [[chief executive officer|CEO]]
|area_served=[[India]]
|area_served=[[India]]
|focus=[[Education]], [[Healthcare]], [[Poverty reduction|Poverty Reduction]]
|focus=[[Education]], [[Healthcare]], [[Poverty reduction|Poverty Reduction]]
|method=[[Community Mobilization]], [[Empowerment]], [[Capacity Building]], [[Service Delivery]]
|method=[[Community Mobilization]], [[Empowerment]], [[Capacity Building]], [[Service Delivery]]
|homepage=[http://www.rgct.in/ www.rgct.in] <br/> [http://www.rgmvp.org/ www.rgmvp.org] <br/> [http://www.igehrc.org/ www.igehrc.org]
|homepage=[http://www.rgct.in/ www.rgct.in] <br /> [http://www.rgmvp.org/ www.rgmvp.org] <br /> [http://www.igehrc.org/ www.igehrc.org]
}}
}}


The '''Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust''' (RGCT) is a registered [[non-profit]] institution, established in 2002 "to commemorate and take forward the vision of [[Rajiv Gandhi]] – [[India]]’s former Prime Minister".<ref>http://www.igehrc.in/about-rgct.asp?links=rgct{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> RGCT aims to implement a people oriented, [[community]] driven [[Rural development|development]] program that would have a [[sustainable]] impact. The Trust works in close collaboration with the [http://www.rgfindia.com/ Rajiv Gandhi Foundation], a [[think tank]] whose operations are aimed at influencing [[public policy]], [[governance]] – [[Local community|local]], [[Nation]]al and international—and aims at increasing opportunities for the [[underprivileged]] and the deprived. The activities currently undertaken by the Trust include women [[empowerment]] and [[eye care]] .
The '''Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust''' (RGCT) is a registered [[non-profit]] institution which was established in 2002 by the Indian National Congress. Named after the 6th Prime Minister of India, the trust is headed by the Interim President of the Indian National Congress.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About RGCT - Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust |url=http://www.rgct.in/about_rgct.asp |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=www.rgct.in}}</ref>
 
== Board of Trustees and Management ==
The Board of Trustees as well as the Management of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable is heavily influenced by the Indian National Congress.
 
=== Board of Trustees ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Post in the Trust
!Trustees
|-
|Chairperson
|Sonia Gandhi
|-
|
|Rahul Gandhi
|-
|Business Executive
|Dr Ashok Ganguly
|-
|Charted Accountant
|Bansi Mehta
|-
|
|Deep Joshi
|}
 
=== Management ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Post in the Trust  
!Trustees
|-
|CEO
|Dr YSP Thorat
|-
|CEO
|Dr Anil Tara
|-
|State Program Director
|Mohanan
|-
|Chief Financial Officer
|Shantannam D Sinha
|}


== Initiatives ==
== Initiatives ==


=== Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana ===
=== Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana ===
[http://www.rgmvp.org/ Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana] (RGMVP) is a flagship program of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) which "aims to build and strengthen the [[community]] institutions of the poor".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120602102914/http://www.rgmvp.org/about-vision.asp?lk=ab2 ]</ref> It is a rights-based [[initiative]] that works for [[poverty reduction]], women’s [[empowerment]] and [[rural development]] in the backward regions of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The main activity of RGMVP includes organising poor [[rural]] women into [[community]] institutions in the form of Self Help Groups (SHGs) - each consisting of 10-20 women - that act as [[social]] platforms to address issues of [[financial inclusion]], [[healthcare]], [[livelihood]], [[education]] and [[Environmentalism|environment]]. The organisation has "the belief that the poor have a strong desire and innate ability to overcome [[poverty]]".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120601103341/http://www.rgmvp.org/about.asp?lk=ab1 ]</ref>
[http://www.rgmvp.org/ Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana] (RGMVP) is a flagship program of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) which "aims to build and strengthen the [[community]] institutions of the poor".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rgmvp.org/about-vision.asp?lk=ab2 |title=Archived copy |website=www.rgmvp.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602102914/http://www.rgmvp.org/about-vision.asp?lk=ab2 |archive-date=2 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is a rights-based [[initiative]] that works for [[poverty reduction]], women’s [[empowerment]] and [[rural development]] in the backward regions of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The main activity of RGMVP includes organising poor [[rural]] women into [[community]] institutions in the form of Self Help Groups (SHGs) - each consisting of 10-20 women - that act as [[social]] platforms to address issues of [[financial inclusion]], [[healthcare]], [[livelihood]], [[education]] and [[Environmentalism|environment]]. The organisation has "the belief that the poor have a strong desire and innate ability to overcome [[poverty]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rgmvp.org/about.asp?lk=ab1 |title=Archived copy |website=www.rgmvp.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601103341/http://www.rgmvp.org/about.asp?lk=ab1 |archive-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


RGMVP has been designed by RGCT and [[National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development]] ([[NABARD]]) with [[technical assistance]] from the [[Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty]] ([[Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty|SERP]]) for promotion, credit linkage and federation of SHGs in select districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100613091321/http://nabard.org/microfinance/RGMVP.asp ]</ref> The programme has been visited by the [[Microsoft]] [[Chairman]], [[Bill Gates]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/album/listing/news/bill-gates-visits-amethi-with-rahul-gandhi-7365/slide/1 |title=Bill Gates visits Amethi with Rahul Gandhi, Photo Gallery |publisher=Ndtv.com |date=2010-05-12 |accessdate=2016-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article427068.ece?homepage=true |title=Gates promises to make Amethi an IT hub |work=The Hindu |date=2010-05-11 |accessdate=2016-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Rahul+takes+Bill+Gates+to+Amethi/1/96842.html |title=Rahul takes Bill Gates to Amethi : Latest Headlines, News - India Today |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date=2010-05-11 |accessdate=2016-09-10}}</ref> and the British ex-Foreign Secretary, [[David Miliband]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130122232944/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/rahuls-selfhelp-groups-fan-out-over-10-districts/504786/ ]</ref>
RGMVP has been designed by RGCT and [[National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development]] ([[NABARD]]) with [[technical assistance]] from the [[Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty]] ([[Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty|SERP]]) for promotion, credit linkage and federation of SHGs in select districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nabard.org/microfinance/RGMVP.asp |title=Archived copy |website=nabard.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613091321/http://nabard.org/microfinance/RGMVP.asp |archive-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The programme has been visited by the [[Microsoft]] [[Chairman]], [[Bill Gates]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/album/listing/news/bill-gates-visits-amethi-with-rahul-gandhi-7365/slide/1 |title=Bill Gates visits Amethi with Rahul Gandhi, Photo Gallery |publisher=Ndtv.com |date=2010-05-12 |accessdate=2016-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article427068.ece?homepage=true |title=Gates promises to make Amethi an IT hub |work=The Hindu |date=2010-05-11 |accessdate=2016-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Rahul+takes+Bill+Gates+to+Amethi/1/96842.html |title=Rahul takes Bill Gates to Amethi : Latest Headlines, News - India Today |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date=2010-05-11 |accessdate=2016-09-10}}</ref> and the British ex-Foreign Secretary, [[David Miliband]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/rahuls-selfhelp-groups-fan-out-over-10-districts/504786/ |title=Archived copy |website=www.expressindia.com |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122232944/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/rahuls-selfhelp-groups-fan-out-over-10-districts/504786/ |archive-date=22 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


=== Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre ===
=== Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre ===
[https://archive.today/20130217233722/http://www.igehrc.in/ Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre] (IGEHRC) was established by the Trust (RGCT) in 2006 to address a requirement for quality and affordable [[eye care]] and eliminate curable [[blindness]] in Northern India and Asia. Currently, two hospitals are operating in [[Uttar Pradesh]]: a secondary level facility in [[Amethi]], and a tertiary level hospital in [[Lucknow]]. Two additional centres are operational in [[Gurugram]]. IGEHRC aims "to provide timely and affordable world-class eye care to all segments of society".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-vms.asp?links=igehrc2 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-05-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130218060804/http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-vms.asp?links=igehrc2 |archivedate=2013-02-18 }}</ref> Regular community outreach programmes are organised in rural areas to provide quality eye care and to create eye care awareness among the rural population.<ref>http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-acvieve.asp?links=igehrc6{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[https://archive.today/20130217233722/http://www.igehrc.in/ Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre] (IGEHRC) was established by the Trust (RGCT) in 2006 to address a requirement for quality and affordable [[eye care]] and eliminate curable [[blindness]] in Northern India and Asia. Currently, two hospitals are operating in [[Uttar Pradesh]]: a secondary level facility in [[Amethi]], and a tertiary level hospital in [[Lucknow]]. Two additional centres are operational in [[Gurugram]]. IGEHRC aims "to provide timely and affordable world-class eye care to all segments of society".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-vms.asp?links=igehrc2 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-05-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130218060804/http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-vms.asp?links=igehrc2 |archivedate=2013-02-18 }}</ref> Regular community outreach programmes are organised in rural areas to provide quality eye care and to create eye care awareness among the rural population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-acvieve.asp?links=igehrc6 |title=Archived copy |website=www.igehrc.in |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827003523/http://www.igehrc.in/about-igehrc-acvieve.asp?links=igehrc6 |archive-date=27 August 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
==  Controversies ==
=== Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam ===
In 1983 [[Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation]] had taken 65 acres land from farmers to set up a factory by Emperor Bicycle Company in Kauhar village of Amethi. After company failed to set up the factory, instead of returning the land to farmers as per rule, it was given to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in violation of rules. The trust was sued. On 26 August 2015, the local court ordered the Rajiv Gandhi Trust to return the land to Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Tribune News |title=Rajiv Gandhi Trust land in Amethi to be returned to UPSIDC |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/story-124723 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-27 |title=Amethi land row: Bicycle firm never owned land sold to Rajiv trust, rules court |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/after-smriti-iranis-land-grab-charge-court-orders-rajiv-gandhi-trust-to-return-land-in-amethi/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2015-08-26 |title=Rajiv Gandhi Trust ordered to return land in Amethi to UPSIDC |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/lPXikWY9tU0m6kuKNvyEwJ/Rajiv-Gandhi-Trust-orderd-to-return-land-in-Amethi-to-UPSIDC.html |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |others=Special Correspondent |date=2015-08-27 |title=Court orders Rajiv trust to return land |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/court-orders-rajiv-trust-to-return-land/article7584798.ece |access-date=2022-04-08 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> But despite the order, the land is continued to be under the trust.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Rahul Gandhi Has Grabbed Our Land': Cong Chief Faces Farmers' Ire in Amethi |language=en-US |work=News18 |url=https://news18.com/news/india/rahul-gandhi-has-grabbed-our-land-cong-chief-faces-farmers-ire-in-amethi-2012251.html |access-date=2022-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=With Rahul in Amethi, farmers demand back land given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-in-amethi-raises-anti-rahul-gandhi-slogans-192348 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=WION |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam ===
Between 2004-2014, [[Government of Haryana]], then under the administration of [[Indian National Congress]]'s Chief Minister [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]], had handed over 1,400 acres of panchayat land to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in the name of [[public interest]] use, resulting in this trust being sued by the [[gram panchayat]] in [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] against the [[land grabbing]] of the Gandhi family by the Hooda government.<ref name=scam1>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=hi&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fperformindia.com%2Fland-fraud-of-gandhi-family%2F Rahul ji! See how Gandhi family has grabbed thousands of acres of farmers], [http://performindia.com/ Perform India], 7 Dec 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust Land Grab Scam Latest News, Photos, Videos on Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust Land Grab Scam |url=https://www.newsnationtv.com/topic/gurugram-rajiv-gandhi-trust-land-grab-scam |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=News Nation |language=hi}}</ref>


== {{anchor| Rajiv Gandhi Trust scams }} Controversies ==
== Investigations ==
=== {{anchor| Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam }} Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam ===
In 1983 [[Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation]] had taken 65 acres land from farmers to set up a factory by Emperor Bicycle Company in Kauhar village of Amethi. After company failed to set up the factory, instead of returning the land to farmers as per rule, it was given to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in violation of rules. The trust was sued. On 26 August 2015, the local court ordered the Rajiv Gandhi Trust to return the land to Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation.<ref name=scam1/>


=== {{anchor| Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam }} Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam ===
=== Probe by Home Ministry ===
Between 2004-2014, [[Government of Haryana]], then under the administration of [[Indian National Congress]]'s Chief Minister [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]], had handed over 1,400 acres of panchayat land to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in the name of [[public interest]] use, resulting in this trust being sued by the [[gram panchayat]] in [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] against the [[land grabbing]] of the Gandhi family by the Hooda government.<ref name=scam1>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=hi&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fperformindia.com%2Fland-fraud-of-gandhi-family%2F Rahul ji! See how Gandhi family has grabbed thousands of acres of farmers], [http://performindia.com/ Perform India], 7 Dec 2017.</ref>
In 2018, Ministry of Home Affairs launched a probe to investigate violation of foreign funding laws in 42 organizations one of which was the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-20 |title=Home Ministry probes Mary Kom's NGO, Rajiv Gandhi Trust over 'foreign fund misuse' |url=https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/200318/home-ministry-probes-mary-koms-ngo-rajiv-gandhi-trust-over-foreign-fund-misuse.html |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Asian Age}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Tripathi |first=Rahul |title=Government widens probe into trusts named after Rajiv, Indira |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/government-widens-probe-into-trusts-named-after-rajiv-indira/articleshow/76848239.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2022-04-08}}</ref>


=== Related land grab scams ===
=== Inter-Ministerial Committee ===
[[Rahul Gandhi]] and [[Sonia Gandhi]] family are the trustees of National Herald and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. Several similar scams of ownership or land grab related to the entities and family members associated with National Herald and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust are either already in court or being investigated by the CBI.<ref name=scam1/>
In 2020, Ministry of Home Affairs set up a inter-ministerial committee headed by the special director of the Enforcement Department to coordinate investigation into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA and other provisions by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust along with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-08 |title=All about 3 Gandhi family-linked trusts being probed by govt for 'financial irregularities' |url=https://theprint.in/india/all-about-3-gandhi-family-linked-trusts-being-probed-by-govt-for-financial-irregularities/456866/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust come under the scanner |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/rajiv-gandhi-charitable-trust-come-under-the-scanner |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=Jul 8, 2020 |title=Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust: All you need to know about Rajiv and Indira Gandhi trusts under probe by MHA {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/all-you-need-to-know-about-3-gandhi-family-trusts-under-probe-by-mha/articleshow/76849279.cms |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The committee will consist of the representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax Department.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
* [[National Herald scam|National Herald ownership scam]]
* [[National Herald scam#National Herald Panchkula land grab scam|National Herald Panchkula land grab scam]] In 1982, in the related development the Congress government gave the National Herald 3,500 square meters of plot number C-17 of Panchkula in Haryana to publish a newspaper, but for ten years, there was no news published from here, hence as per the rules the land should have been returned to the government, but the ownership was illegally transferred to [[National Herald (India)|National Herald]] by Hooda government in 2013. This case and National Herald's possession of INR 2000 crores worth land are being investigated by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (c. December 2017).<ref name=scam1/>
* [[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam|Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam]]: Between 2004-2014, [[Government of Haryana]], then under the administration of [[Indian National Congress]]'s Chief Minister [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]], had handed over 1,400 acres of panchayat land to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in the name of [[public interest]] use, resulting in this trust being sued by the [[gram panchayat]] in [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] against the land grabbing of the Gandhi family by the Hooda government.<ref name="scam1"/>
*[[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam|Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam]]: In 1983 [[Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation]] had taken 65 acres land from farmers to set up a factory by Emperor Bicycle Company in Kauhar village of Amethi. After company failed to set up the factory, instead of returning the land to farmers as per rule, it was given to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in violation of rules. The trust was sued. On 26 August 2015, the local court ordered the Rajiv Gandhi Trust to return the land to Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation.<ref name=scam1/>
*[[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Related land grab scams|Robert Vadra DLF land grab scam]]: It is a case related to 50-acre land grab in 2013 in Amipur village of Haryana during the Congress' Hooda government. Vadra, Hooda and [[DLF (company)|DLF]] are being investigated by the CBI (c. December 2017).<ref name=scam1/>  
*[[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Related land grab scams|Robert Vadra Bikaner land grab scam]]: it is a 275 bigha 2010 land grab in Bikaner of Rajasthan being investigated by the CBI (c. December 2017).<ref name=scam1/>
*[[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Related land grab scams|Shimla Gandhi family land grab scam]]: It is a case related to 4 bigha land grab in 2007 in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla. The case is pending in [[Himachal Pradesh High Court]] (c. December 2017).<ref name=scam1/>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 10:39, 7 June 2022

Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust
Founded2002
FounderSonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi
TypeNon-governmental organization, Indian Trusts Act 1882
FocusEducation, Healthcare, Poverty Reduction
Location
Area served
India
MethodCommunity Mobilization, Empowerment, Capacity Building, Service Delivery
Key people
Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson
Deep Joshi, CEO
Websitewww.rgct.in
www.rgmvp.org
www.igehrc.org

The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) is a registered non-profit institution which was established in 2002 by the Indian National Congress. Named after the 6th Prime Minister of India, the trust is headed by the Interim President of the Indian National Congress.[1]

Board of Trustees and Management

The Board of Trustees as well as the Management of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable is heavily influenced by the Indian National Congress.

Board of Trustees

Post in the Trust Trustees
Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi
Business Executive Dr Ashok Ganguly
Charted Accountant Bansi Mehta
Deep Joshi

Management

Post in the Trust Trustees
CEO Dr YSP Thorat
CEO Dr Anil Tara
State Program Director Mohanan
Chief Financial Officer Shantannam D Sinha

Initiatives

Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana

Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana (RGMVP) is a flagship program of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) which "aims to build and strengthen the community institutions of the poor".[2] It is a rights-based initiative that works for poverty reduction, women’s empowerment and rural development in the backward regions of Uttar Pradesh. The main activity of RGMVP includes organising poor rural women into community institutions in the form of Self Help Groups (SHGs) - each consisting of 10-20 women - that act as social platforms to address issues of financial inclusion, healthcare, livelihood, education and environment. The organisation has "the belief that the poor have a strong desire and innate ability to overcome poverty".[3]

RGMVP has been designed by RGCT and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) with technical assistance from the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) for promotion, credit linkage and federation of SHGs in select districts of Uttar Pradesh.[4] The programme has been visited by the Microsoft Chairman, Bill Gates[5][6][7] and the British ex-Foreign Secretary, David Miliband.[8]

Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre

Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre (IGEHRC) was established by the Trust (RGCT) in 2006 to address a requirement for quality and affordable eye care and eliminate curable blindness in Northern India and Asia. Currently, two hospitals are operating in Uttar Pradesh: a secondary level facility in Amethi, and a tertiary level hospital in Lucknow. Two additional centres are operational in Gurugram. IGEHRC aims "to provide timely and affordable world-class eye care to all segments of society".[9] Regular community outreach programmes are organised in rural areas to provide quality eye care and to create eye care awareness among the rural population.[10]

Controversies

Amethi Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam

In 1983 Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation had taken 65 acres land from farmers to set up a factory by Emperor Bicycle Company in Kauhar village of Amethi. After company failed to set up the factory, instead of returning the land to farmers as per rule, it was given to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in violation of rules. The trust was sued. On 26 August 2015, the local court ordered the Rajiv Gandhi Trust to return the land to Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation.[11][12][13][14] But despite the order, the land is continued to be under the trust.[15][16]

Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam

Between 2004-2014, Government of Haryana, then under the administration of Indian National Congress's Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had handed over 1,400 acres of panchayat land to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in the name of public interest use, resulting in this trust being sued by the gram panchayat in Punjab and Haryana High Court against the land grabbing of the Gandhi family by the Hooda government.[17][18]

Investigations

Probe by Home Ministry

In 2018, Ministry of Home Affairs launched a probe to investigate violation of foreign funding laws in 42 organizations one of which was the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.[19][20]

Inter-Ministerial Committee

In 2020, Ministry of Home Affairs set up a inter-ministerial committee headed by the special director of the Enforcement Department to coordinate investigation into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA and other provisions by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust along with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.[21][22][23] The committee will consist of the representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax Department.[22][20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About RGCT - Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust". www.rgct.in. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". www.rgmvp.org. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". www.rgmvp.org. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". nabard.org. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Bill Gates visits Amethi with Rahul Gandhi, Photo Gallery". Ndtv.com. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Gates promises to make Amethi an IT hub". The Hindu. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Rahul takes Bill Gates to Amethi : Latest Headlines, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". www.expressindia.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Retrieved 15 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". www.igehrc.in. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "Rajiv Gandhi Trust land in Amethi to be returned to UPSIDC". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Amethi land row: Bicycle firm never owned land sold to Rajiv trust, rules court". The Indian Express. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. ↑ PTI (26 August 2015). "Rajiv Gandhi Trust ordered to return land in Amethi to UPSIDC". mint. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Court orders Rajiv trust to return land". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 27 August 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 April 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. ↑ "'Rahul Gandhi Has Grabbed Our Land': Cong Chief Faces Farmers' Ire in Amethi". News18. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "With Rahul in Amethi, farmers demand back land given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation". WION. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  17. ↑ Rahul ji! See how Gandhi family has grabbed thousands of acres of farmers, Perform India, 7 Dec 2017.
  18. ↑ "Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust Land Grab Scam Latest News, Photos, Videos on Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust Land Grab Scam". News Nation (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "Home Ministry probes Mary Kom's NGO, Rajiv Gandhi Trust over 'foreign fund misuse'". The Asian Age. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Tripathi, Rahul. "Government widens probe into trusts named after Rajiv, Indira". The Economic Times. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "All about 3 Gandhi family-linked trusts being probed by govt for 'financial irregularities'". ThePrint. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust come under the scanner". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  23. ↑ "Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust: All you need to know about Rajiv and Indira Gandhi trusts under probe by MHA | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.

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