NGO: Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS)
Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS) was set up to empower the rural poor, by providing them educational, social development and humanitarian services. SVRDS works in the rural parts of Tamil Nadu, where people are not only extremely poor, but also suffer from high rates of malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment and perpetual cycle of poverty.
IDRF partner since: 1996
Focus Area: Eco-friendly Development,Health and Disaster Rehabilitation
Location: Tamil Nadu
Project Title: Village Energy Program
Details: IDRF has started an innovative program with SVRDS in 2017, to provide eco-friendly electric power generated from renewable energy resources to 100 villages. People in these villages have either limited or unreliable access to electric power. This program aims to convert solar energy into regular electricity through photovoltaic (PV) system. Solar PV systems of 250 watt capacity, with battery storage, fan and LED lights along with a power strip to charge power tools are being installed at one room-school building (popularly known as Single Teacher School) in each village. The installation and maintenance of the solar PV systems is generating rural employment in non-agricultural sector, entrepreneurship and modern energy solutions that will bring total energy independence and self-reliance to these villages.
Students attending night school in a temple compound
S M Sehgal Foundation was set up in 1999, with a mission to strengthen community-led development initiatives to achieve positive social, economic and environmental changes across rural India.
IDRF partner since: 2017
Focus Area: Women’s Empowerment
Location: Rajasthan
Project Title: Strengthening the role of Women Farmers (Jaagruk Krishak)
Details: IDRF shares Sehgal Foundation’s commitment to promote gender equality and improve the lives of women farmers, who account for 55 to 66% of the total labor force in farming activities and responsible for 60 to 80% of food production. Women are key contributors to rural economic activities and also play a traditional role of looking after the household. Despite playing a key role in the rural economy, the role of women as an agriculturist in the community is often not recognized. In order to improve the role of women in farm sector, a three year project on agricultural development is being implemented in ten villages of Alwar District. With IDRF’s help, nine training programs were organized in 2017, with the objective of educating farmers on modern agricultural practices for growing vegetable. The focus is by design on vegetables because it is more employment intensive and remunerative than staple food grain farming. Women farmers’ self-help groups were given portable solar-spray machines to provide them with an efficient and convenient tool for protecting their crops. These machines would be rotated among the women farmers to make its maximum utilization during the growing season. This three year project will benefit at least 2,000 plus farmers in the villages that are focused on vegetable farming. Due to an improvement in the information of best practices of cultivation among farmers, there will be an increase in the yield and the marketable quality of vegetables. This will lead to an increase in their household incomes and help recognize women’s role in the rural economy.
Jagruk Krishak-Training Workshop for Farmers Growing Vegetables
Jagruk Krishak-Training Workshop for Women Farmers
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana University (S-VYASA), was established in 1986 and is a charitable educational institution promoting the role of Yoga in the modern medical sciences and research. Based on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, the four streams of Yoga, that are the key essence of Indian culture, are now being applied to bring health, harmony, and peace to people all over the world. Suggested by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations has declared June 21st as the International Yoga Day in 2014. The mission of S-VYASA has been to combine the best of the east (Yoga and spiritual lore) with that of the west (modern scientific research).
S-VYASA has supported and enabled thousands of students with an interest in yoga and its connection to medicine to conduct research, both independently and in collaboration with dozens of medical institutions around the world.
IDRF partner since: 2002
Focus Area: Women Empowerment and Health
Location: Karnataka
Project Title: Construction of Women’s Hostel
Details: IDRF partnered with S-VYASA to help construct a four-floor women’s hostel on the campus in Bengaluru. The Lakshmi Amma hostel constructed in 2010, provides safe accommodation to 500 students of all ages and academic levels (Bachelors to Doctorate). The parents of the girls feel a sense of relief in sending their daughters to study and live on the campus. Since 2017, IDRF has been supporting the construction for the expansion of this hostel.
Lakshmi Amma Women’s Hostel on the campus
Hostel accommodates 500 students
Spacious and furnished rooms in the hostel
Please click on the link to learn more about the S-VYASA’s various programs.
NGO: Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation (SLCDF)
Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation is a non-profit voluntary organization that was created in 1987. SLCDF is committed to building and strengthening the network of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and voluntary organizations to address poverty and other related social and economic issues in Sri Lanka. SLCDF’s programs enhance the capacities and social capital of the underprivileged by developing knowledge, skills, resources, and technical support to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable human development.
IDRF partner since: 2017
Focus Area: Women’s Empowerment
Location: Sri Lanka
Project Title: Improved livelihood activities in Women-headed Households and Families with Persons with Disabilities
Details: IDRF has partnered with SLCDF to improve livelihood activities in women-headed households and families with persons with disabilities in the Kandy District of Central Province. The beneficiary families are identified by the CBOs using participatory methods and basic training for integrated livelihoods is provided. Some of the major activities included under this program are:
Providing training in land management technologies for prevention of land degradation
Providing revolving loan funds for various livelihood activities (home gardening, polytunnel plant nursery, conservation farming, and improved dairy farming, etc.)
Providing training for small tea holders and pepper cultivation
Providing capital for cattle sheds to existing dairy farmers
Providing planting material for establishing polytunnel plant nurseries
IDRF grants have helped provide training and revolving micro-loans to 78 women to start or strengthen their small enterprises. This has led to an increase in the incomes of their families and made them economically and socially stable. Most of the additional income earned by these women is being invested in their children’s education and nutrition. Also, the self-employment opportunities created for women as a result of this program are enhancing leadership and confidence among them at the community level.
Converting Small Business to a Micro-venture
Dhammika, 46, lives in Central Province of Sri Lanka with her husband and two little boys. As part of the IDRF’s micro-credit program to empower poor rural women, she received training and a loan to make bags and mosquito-nets to sell at the local weekly market.
With the increased income, she is able to buy more raw material to make more bags and nets and pay for the education of her children. With an increase in her family income, she is also able to repay the loan and save some money to meet emergency medical expenses for her family.
Kanthi Weerasinghe, 57, lives in Central Province, Sri Lanka with her husband. They are engaged in farming activities on their small plot of land and sell the produce in a far off market. To get to the market, the family has to spend a lot of money on transportation and so she started a small poultry farm to supplement the household income.
However, the family suffered a major economic setback when the farm had to be shut down temporarily due to a disease. Kanthi applied for a loan supported by IDRF’s micro-credit program in partnership with SLCDF, to buy more birds to restart her small business. Now the financial conditions at home are improving once again!
Small convenience store
Mushroom cultivation
Pepper planting
Ekel broom making
Please click on the link to learn more about SLCDF: http://slcdf.net/
Shiksha Bharati is an educational institution that is devoted to the cause of the empowerment of girls. The education complex comprises a senior secondary school for girls, an IDRF hostel for tribal girls, a B. Ed college, herbal garden, and gaushala (animal shelter) on a 20-acre campus, some 65 kilometers east of New Delhi. IDRF provides free value-based education, board, and lodging to underprivileged tribal girls from northeast India. The IDRF-supported hostel can accommodate 100 students and is attached to the C.B.S.E. accredited senior secondary school.
IDRF partner since: 2001
Focus Area: Education, Women Empowerment and Eco-friendly Development
Location: Hapur, Uttar Pradesh
Project Title: Biogas plant at IDRF Tribal Girls’ Hostel
Details: IDRF got in touch with Dr. Emmanuel D’Silva (a World Bank retiree) and his business partner Narendra Jindal who have set up more than 70 biogas units across India on a pro bono basis. IDRF helped Shiksha Bharati to set up two, new biogas units: a-20 cubic meter digester close to the gaushala run on cow dung and an-8 cubic meter unit run on human waste from the girls’ toilets. The biogas generated from the units meets most of the kitchen fuel needs of the girls’ hostel.
The Shiksha Bharati management is happy with the new biogas unit that employs the latest technology. Unlike traditional dome-shaped cow-dung biogas plants made of bricks and cement, this one is made of synthetic material that looks like a balloon and rolls on the ground. The technology is sourced from Mexico but fabricated in India. The new unit saves about four cylinders of LPG gas per month in winters and five cylinders in summers.
The biogas unit has already generated considerable interest locally. The state’s Minister for Panchayats came on a visit to see the biogas plant and showed his appreciation for IDRF’s eco- friendly vision. The project might inspire other semi-rural schools that have student hostels, gardens or cattle sheds to have biogas units too. IDRF is looking ahead to support the spread of this technology to education/health institutions in other states of India as well.
The two-unit biogas plant installed at IDRF-tribal girls’ hostel
The biogas plant meets the fuel needs in the kitchen at the girls’ hostel
Clean energy from the biogas plant replaces 57 (approx.) LPG cylinders per year at the hostel
Padmashree Mrs. Lila Poonawalla along with her husband Mr. Firoz Poonawalla established the Lila Poonawalla Foundation (LPF) in 1995. This educational trust was set up with a vision to contribute to the empowerment of Indian women through education. LPF supports academically outstanding and financially deserving girls through scholarships to pursue higher education. LPF places great importance on nurturing women’s abilities through a comprehensive education, including personal development workshops, activities, gatherings, study tours, and other such enrichment programs. Since its inception, over 12,220 scholarships have been granted to 5,848 deserving girls. The foundation gives Scholarships to the girls from Pune, Amaravati and Wardha districts in Maharashtra.
IDRF partner since: 2009
Focus Area: Women’s Empowerment and Education
Location: Maharashtra and Telangana
Project Title: Merit-cum-need based scholarships and skill-building
Details: LPF awards scholarships to academically meritorious girls from the economically weaker background:
1) School scholarships (7th grade up to graduation) 2) Undergraduate scholarships and skill building project (engineering, engineering after diploma, pharmacy, nursing, and science courses) 3) Postgraduate scholarships and skill building project
The focus of LPF scholarships lies in the overall development and transformation of the scholarship recipients. Besides the financial assistance provided for completing their professional education, LPF focuses on ‘Beyond Scholarship’ by investing in the Skill Building & Development interventions to transform its girls into confident employable professionals for the industry at large. This also makes them balanced, empathetic and responsible human being. LPF provides them support in locating internship and placement opportunities, especially to those girls who may not get campus placement opportunities. LPF School Project is also supported with need based infrastructure and counseling of girls and their parents.
Many LILA Girls/LILA Fellows are working as Leaders in organizations such as Google, TCS, IBM, and Walmart in the USA. In India, thousands of LILA Girls and LILA Fellows are excelling in their career with Corporate MNCs, Hospitals, Academia Institutes, Research Organizations, Consulting and Civil Services.
LPF encourages the culture of give back within the LILA Girls/LILA Fellows through donations to help other girls get an education and blossom into confident young ladies through mentoring.
There have been frequent visits by IDRF’s Board Member -Dileep Thatte and his wife Naina Thatte to LPF to interact and encourage LILA Girls/Fellows.
Skill building and training program for LILA Fellows.
Lila Girls from Wardha in a training class
Please click on https://www.lilapoonawallafoundation.com/ to know more about how Lila Poonawalla Foundation champions the significant cause of promoting girl’s education and women empowerment
Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS) is an organization that was established in 1982 in West Bengal. ERDS owes its existence to the dedication and hard work of Mr. Madhu Basu, who wanted to combat the growing poverty in villages and urban areas. It is a non-profit, secular and non-political organization dedicated to the mitigation of misery and poverty, and upliftment of the impoverished.
The primary objective of the organization is to engage in sustainable development techniques to empower the local rural communities, especially women and children. In the initial years it concentrated on non-formal adult education. Gradually ERDS has diversified its activities in other fields such as women and child development, children’s education, health & nutrition, low cost sanitation, care & rehabilitation of the elderly and disaster relief & rehabilitation.
IDRF partner since: 2005
Focus Area: Women Empowerment, Education, Health and Disaster Management.
Location: West Bengal
Project Title: Micro-Credit for Women Supported Small Business Activities
Details: After years of providing community services, ERDS conducted an assessment of living standard improvements among its supported populations, and found the surprising news that there had been hardly any long-term improvements. ERDS discovered that their donations to supported communities had actually led to dependence rather than self-reliance. In a concerted effort to redirect this trend, ERDS turned to micro-credit with the financial support from IDRF.
Pushing against cultural obstacles that make it difficult for rural women to work outside of the household, ERDS went ahead with mobilizing women into small groups, inviting them to gatherings where they were encouraged to speak up, and where their apprehensions were addressed. Since 2010, with the support of IDRF, ERDS’s micro-credit program has been educating women on how to effectively use their money, while also providing them with credit for small business ventures. This program has encouraged the development of women-owned small businesses, and also inculcated a practice of saving money.
These training programs have been very successful, and over the years, the loan sizes have increased from INR 5,000 to 20,000, and it boasts of 99% repayment rates. As IDRF funding is in grant form, the repaid loans are used as revolving credit to make new loans. ERDS strictly monitors the activities on which the borrowed money is spent by regular visits to the family residences, and, thus, preventing the misuse of loans. The families are given advice on how to use the money for maximum gains, and businesses have steadily grown as a result. The program is co-financed by multiple sources, to best ensure its long-term sustainability. Due to the monitoring, training and 99% of repayment rates, over the years IDRF funds have become three-fold and have changed the lives of 2,000 families in 133 villages.
IDRF’s funds are directed entirely toward the provision of these loans limited solely to rural areas and villages. ERDS is able to provide women with loans that was previously impossible to obtain due to the high cost of capital. Hundreds of women have received the technical skills, confidence, and financial expertise to operate extremely successful small businesses. Many of these women are now primary breadwinners in their households and leading more dignified lives. The general economic benefits seen by families has led these women to take good care of their children’s health and education.
Shyamali Rani purchased Ice-Cream Carts with Loan Funded by IDRF
Chayarani Mondol’s Success Story:
Chayarani Mondol belonged to a poverty stricken background and used to sell vegetables in the local market to meet both ends. Despite her hard efforts, the volatility in the prices of vegetables and increased competition in the market, made it very difficult for her family to survive on her meager income. Her children had to drop out of the school and could not continue their education.
In 2009, she took the initiative and set up a small stationery shop with the seed capital support of INR 5,000 from ERDS. Chayarani made substantial efforts to increase the sales of her stationery shop and gradually the popularity of the shop increased. She gave up selling vegetables and started working full-time in her shop. She has been very regular in repaying the loan installments and with the financial support from IDRF, she has been extended a credit of INR 30,000. With this extended credit, she has been able to add daily use products and a photocopier machine in her shop.
As a result of her hard work and support from IDRF, her family income has nearly trippled and their average monthly income is now INR 10,000. With this increase in her income she is now able to fund higher education for her daughter.
Chayarani Mondol’s shop setup with the loan funded by IDRF
Madhumati Saha’s successstory:
Prior to joining IDRF and ERDS’ micro-credit program in 2010, Madhumati Saha’s garment workshop was making a loss in spite of her hard work. Through ERDS, she obtained a loan of INR 10,000 to buy an embroidery machine and raw materials. This initial investment paid off, and with the help of other loans through ERDS, she was able to expand the business to include hosiery products and children’s clothing. After successful repayment of her loans, she was able to borrow larger amounts that allowed her to rent a place to house the business and hire employees. She is now a thriving wholesale supplier of clothing products to various retail outlets in Kolkata. Her family income has improved significantly to INR 25,000 ‐30,000 per month.
“We are now capable enough to fulfill the basic needs of the family like education, nutrition, and health. We consider ourselves blessed to be members of this micro-credit program”, says Madhumati Saha, beaming with pride.
Madhumati Saha runs a successful tailoring business with the loan funded by IDRF
Please click on the following link to find more information about Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS)
Vatsalya Trust Mumbai is a non-profit organization that was established in 1983 with the primary objective of caring for and rehabilitating destitute children through its orphanage as well as other social programs. The name ‘Vatsalya’, a Sanskrit word meaning affection, was considered appropriate for naming the Trust, as it works for the welfare of children and provides various facilities for their social and economic upliftment. Over the years, the Trust’s focus areas have extended beyond just the caring of destitute children, to include women’s empowerment and education efforts.
IDRF partner since: 1998
Focus Area: Education and Women’s Empowerment
Location: Navi-Mumbai, Maharashtra
Project Title: Balikashram: Sanpada Project
Details: The Balikashram- Sanpada Project was started in June 1999 in Navi-Mumbai at Sanpada. IDRF has been partners since 2008 and sending grants to support this project. In this three-storied building about 54 destitute girls in the age-group of 4 to 16 years are provided shelter, nourishment, medical care and educational and developmental facilities. These girls from economically weaker sections of the society are getting education as well as personality development classes so that when they go back to their families, they feel more confident and self-reliant. During the academic year, several events and competitions are held and the girls are encouraged to participate in order to ensure their all-round personality development. Organization also conducts various vocational courses such as: tailoring, fashion designing, beautician, and henna application, etc. for girls at the Balikashram as well as other women from economically weaker section of the society.
Surabi Trust is a non-governmental and philanthropic organization that was founded in 2008, by a group of socially committed youth in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Trust is established with the ultimate aim to serve deprived children by providing them quality education, better medical and nutrition support and empower women to be self-reliant.
IDRF partner since: 2015
Focus Area: Education and Health
Location: Tamil Nadu
Project Title: Brindavan-Residential Care for Homeless Boys
Details: Surabi runs a free stay home Brindavan for abandoned children in a friendly and caring environment which makes them feel at home. IDRF has been supporting Surabi’s program of providing a home for homeless children who are vulnerable to exploitation by criminals and anti-social activities. The objective of this program is to provide good education to these destitute children by providing them a friendly learning environment and to equip them with moral values and help them grow into good citizens. Surabi provides free food, shelter, clothing, shoes, haircutting, education, sporting activities, and training in Taekwondo, music and arts for the children residing here. Apart from academics and sports, Surabi also arranges recreation programs and annual trips for the children to enjoy.
Homeless children residing at Brindavan
Homeless children residing at Brindavan are trained in Taekwondo and participate in championships
Please click on the link below to know more about the various programs carried out by Surabi Trust.
Society for Welfare of the Handicapped is a pioneer in North India in the field of education for Children with special needs. This Society was established in 1967 and started Special School for the Blind and the Patiala Special School for the Deaf and Dumb, that have been providing crucial education and life skills training to those that need it most. No fees is charged from the students for tuition or hostel facility and everything is free of cost to them. Over the years the school has become the most sought after special education facility for deaf and blind children in Punjab, Haryana and some of the neighboring states.
IDRF partner since: 2016
Focus Area: Education
Location: Punjab
Project Title: Operational Funds for the Hostel, Sponsorship of Children
Details: The Patiala School for the Deaf, Patiala School for the Blind and Patiala School for the Deafblind are co-educational and residential. The students enrolled here vary from early intervention stage (Pre-nursery) to class 12th. There are about 350 students here and 280 of them are staying in the hostel. This is the only school for the blind in Punjab with a hostel for girls. There is a great demand for admission to these schools and to keep up with demand, Patiala School has begun a massive expansion, doubling capacity for both classrooms and hostel facilities. The school have the latest teaching aids and infrastructure for deaf and blind students. Patiala School also provides vocational training to the deaf and blind students, and helps them to earn a livelihood after the completion of the schooling and become productive members of the community. The schools take pride in molding these children with special needs- as “Service Providers-Not Service Seekers”. In 2014, Society for Welfare of the Handicapped was adjudged as the best NGO in India in child welfare activities. This organization is not in receipt of any government funding or corporate aid and depends on the support from private voluntary donations. The marginal cost of educating a student (including hostel expenses) is around INR 18,000 or approximately $ 270/ year. Funds are still needed for operational costs to continue offering free education to those in need.
Deaf students in the classroom
Please click on the link to learn more about the Society for Welfare of the Handicapped- Patiala School. http://patialaschool.org
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Ms. Shubhra Garg (Masters in Mathematics; MBA), USA
Secretary
Member since 2022
Shubhra Garg retired from the World Bank in 2015 as Chief Administrative Officer, having served for over 25 year in a variety of senior management and technical positions in the areas of strategy, leadership, budget, performance management, finance, and administration. She has also served as treasurer and secretary on the Board of another NGO. Shubhra did her Master in Mathematics from Delhi University and an M.B.A from University of Maryland.
Mr. Adesh Jain (Masters, B.Tech), USA
Member since 2022
Adesh is a seasoned, hands-on leader with over 30 years of progressive experience in leading an information technology services business. He is currently responsible for Belcan’s Federal Civilian business and Vice President and General Manager. He is passionate about building trusting customer relationships, and business management with sharp focus on growth. Adesh has a Masters degree from University of Maryland at College park and Bachelors from Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur, India. Adesh enjoys reading business books, running, badminton and volunteering in various organizations including IDRF, Capital IIT and Girls Scouts. He lives in Herndon, VA with his wife and two kids.
Dr. Prem Garg (PhD, Engineering-Economic Systems), USA
Treasurer
Member since August 2014
Dr. Prem Garg retired from the World Bank in 2007 after serving as the Director for the Quality Assurance Group and in a variety of operational and executive positions for 35 years. He is recognized as a leader in providing innovative approaches to development programs. Dr. Garg received his doctorate in Engineering-Economic Systems from Stanford University.
Rajeev has over 20 years’ experience in starting and scaling small business for success and impact. He’s been involved with IDRF as a volunteer, adviser, Board member and now as their Executive Director. His focus is making IDRF more efficient and impactful in its mission to serve the underprivileged. He holds a B.Tech. from IIT Delhi and an MBA from University of Maryland.
Donor Spotlight
Mr. Inder Sud, a former World Bank Director and President of the 1818 Society (2015-21), is
a highly respected member of the Indian-American community in the Washington DC Metro Area. Over the years he and his wife Peggy have supported several projects in India through IDRF. In 2022, they supported the
renovation of a hostel mess at Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar, Punjab with the help of the Udhampur Rotary Eye & General Welfare Foundation.
Dr. G. R. Verma (Ph.D. Mathematics), USA
Member since 2011
Dr. Verma is among IDRF’s top donors. He visits India every year, devoting his resources to rural women’s education, self-empowerment and social reforms. IDRF benefits tremendously from his extensive experience in development. He guides NGOs in India to create scalable projects that can accelerate social development.
Bharathi Mallampati (MS, Engineering), USA
Member since June 2022
Bharathi came to the USA for her MS in 1991 and pursued her career with Bell Communications Research. She was involved in IDRF from 1995 and later became the New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia chapters’ coordinator. Moving back to India for family, she started a small-scale industry for a few years and worked as an Associate Professor at CVR Engineering College. She participated in different projects under Sewa Bharati and was the joint secretary for Vaidehi Ashram, a home for destitute girls. She later started a new project for adolescent girls from poor neighborhoods called Vaidehi Kishori Vikas Yojana. Since 2015, moving back to the USA, she has taken an advisory role in projects in India and actively works with IDRF to raise funds.
Ms. Nisha Narayanan (Masters in Economics), USA
Member since 2021
Ms. Narayanan is a risk and compliance professional with over 15 years of experience in anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and political and economic risk. She became interested in sustainable development while working at the World Bank and through a prior project on corporate citizenship in India. She brings to IDRF a passion for empowering marginalized communities with the tools to improve their lives through strong local partnerships that focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance goals. She received an M.A. in Economics from George Mason University and a B.A. in International Relations from William and Mary.
Mr. Mohinder Gulati, (MBA-Finance, Masters in Physics), USA
Member since 2017
Mr. Gulati retired from the World Bank in 2015 after having served as Advisor (Energy) at the World Bank and as Chief Operating Officer of United Nations Sustainable Energy for All. He has also worked in several executive positions in India in a financial intermediary, commercial banking, investment banking, and armed forces. A post-graduate in Physics and Management from Delhi University and Management training at Harvard Business School, he brings 40 years of development experience to the Board.
Dr Vinod Prakash (PhD, Economics),USA
President
Member since 1988
Dr. Vinod Prakash is a retired World Bank economist and the founder of IDRF. He has been working pro bono since 1988 to help alleviate poverty and enable sustainable development in India. He provides strategic oversight to leverage maximum benefits from donor dollars and shapes programs so they address the interlocking needs of the less privileged.
Dr. Suresh C. Gupta (M.D.), USA
Member since 2020
Dr. Gupta is a highly respected physician who has been honored by the state of Maryland for his work as chair of the Maryland Board of Physicians. He has been elected as the first Indian-American president of Prince George’s Medical Society, Prince George’s Hospital Center, President of Hindu Temple, and President and Chairman of Durga Temple. He is actively involved in the cultural-philanthropic activities of the Indian-American community and several religious, health-related activities at the county and state level. Dr. Gupta has held leadership positions with several Indian-American organizations in the area.
Kanthi Weerasinghe, 57, lives in Central Province, Sri Lanka with her husband. They are engaged in farming activities on their small plot of land and sell the produce in a far off market. To get to the market, the family has to spend a lot of money on transportation and so she started a small poultry farm to supplement the household income.
