Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankhal (RKMS), is situated in the city of Haridwar, Uttarakhand. This 150-bed multi-specialty charitable hospital was founded in 1901 and caters to the medical needs of people in the Himalayan mountain region, neighboring states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Since its foundation, RKMS has treated more than 10 million patients and is spread over a sprawling campus of about 18 acres. The hospital houses various departments like: Obstetrics-Gynecology, Pediatrics, NICU, ICU, Pathological labs, Blood bank, Operation Theaters, etc. The campus also has a dairy farm and agricultural land, and their produce is used for feeding poor in-patients.
IDRF partner since: 2016
Focus Area: Health
Location: Uttarakhand
Project Title: Hospital capacity augmentation and remodeling
Details: The multi-specialty hospital treats about 100,000 patients in a year. Due to the deterioration in provision of medical services by the government hospitals and unaffordable costs of private providers, this hospital is experiencing a rising demand from poor patients. With partial government and donor assistance, the hospital is expanding its existing facilities to add two more floors and additional equipment. IDRF has supported RKMS’s expansion and modernization program by financing medical equipment and air-conditioning of the newly added patient-care wards.
Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Hospital Building in Kankhal, Uttarakhand
CT scan facility at RKMS Hospital
ICU at RKMS Hospital
Please click on the link to know more about the various charitable programs of Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram in Kankhal, District Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
Public Health Concern Trust, Nepal (phect-NEPAL) is a secular, non-political, not-for-profit national level Non-government Organization (NGO) committed to health development. It was founded in 1991, with the overall objective of developing a model of sustainable community health care throughout rural Nepal. Despite the progress in development made in Nepal in recent decades, life for the majority of the people remains well below a satisfactory level.
IDRF partner since: 2012
Focus Area: Health and Disaster Rehabilitation
Location: Nepal
Project Title: Managing Genital Prolapse in Women
Details: A genital prolapse is a downward or forward displacement of one of the pelvic organs from its normal location in females. In Nepal over 25% women are estimated to be suffering from Utero-Vaginal Prolapse (UVP) that causes genital organs along with urinary bladder and rectum to come out from their original location. As a result, these women have a miserable and degraded life. Majority of women with prolapse cannot make use of surgical services as they are concentrated in or near large urban areas and they also lack the financial means required to cover the cost of the treatment. IDRF has helped conduct free surgical remedies to needy women with severe prolapse at Kathmandu Model Hospital. In 2019-20, with grants from IDRF, 38 women had successful surgeries and in-patients’ post-operative care for a week at no cost to them. Several outreach free health camps are also regularly organized that address the awareness and preventive measures for pelvic organ prolapse.
Success Story
Rudra Kumari Shreshtha, 58, was suffering from pelvic organ prolapse for 25 years and was reluctant to share her problems. When her daughter-in-law forced her to seek medical consultation, the doctors found out that she was suffering from pelvic organ prolapse, stage 3. Despite her financial hardships, she underwent a surgery and one week of free post-operative care supported by IDRF and phect-Nepal. When she was discharged, she left the hospital with a big smile on her face and feeling free from 25 years of suffering.
Menuka Basola, a 67 years old female was brought to the hospital after suffering from prolapse for three years. She as very reluctant to share her medical problem at home and finally one day, when her son saw her in great discomfort, he immediately brought her to the hospital. Upon examination, the doctors found out that she was suffering from pelvic organ prolapse, stage 3. She underwent a successful surgery and was given one week of post-operative care at no cost to her. When she was discharged, she left the hospital with a big smile on her face.
Please click on the link to learn more about Public Health Concern Trust http://phectnepal.org/
Manav Seva Sansthan “SEVA”, based in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, is a non-profit organization established in 1988 and works with a mission to ensure socio-economic development of the poor and disadvantaged, especially vulnerable women and children. Manav Seva Sansthan is working on several development programs like, childrens’ rights and protection, development of socially disadvantaged classes, health issues like: HIV; sustainable livelihood, gender rights and disaster management, etc.
IDRF partner since: 2013
Focus Area: Health and Disaster Rehabilitation
Location: Uttar Pradesh
Project Title:Prevention of Japanese Encephalitis and Musahar empowerment project
Details: The deadly virus of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has afflicted Himalayan foothills (Terai) in eastern Uttar Pradesh for nearly three decades. The virus kills approximately 15,000 people of the estimated 50,000 cases reported annually in India. Among the survivors, up to 75 percent suffer from disabilities, including paralysis and mental retardation. Gorakhpur Division is one of the worst affected areas of the region. Experts have calculated that in the last 30 years the killer disease has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 children. In 2016, out of the 276 deaths, 260 were children in the age group of 6-14 years. IDRF is engaged in fight against JE since 2016. Immunization is the best preventive measure but equally important are: public awareness about the symptoms for early detection, link between sanitation and the vector, capacity among local doctors to diagnose the disease, and, access to safe drinking water. IDRF grant is helping develop a sustainable community based model to manage JE. The project covers 93 villages in Gorakhpur district. Baseline assessment has been carried out in all these villages, focusing on status of safe drinking water, health and hygiene status of the community, status of using toilets, use of mosquito nets, create awareness about the virus among the community and service providers, and effectiveness of government initiatives to prevent JE. With IDRF’s support, Manav Seva Sansthan has also conducted a school-to-school campaign to generate awareness among the children on the issue of encephalitis and hygiene. Manav Seva Sansthan has also conducted stakeholder consultation among Gram Panchayat, Block and District officials, cluster level public meetings to spread awareness, counselling of cattle and pig farmers, and training of trainers to convert normal mosquito nets into medicated nets. With the new Chief Minister of UP being from Gorakhpur, and having worked for many years on this issue, this project should get more attention and gain momentum in the coming years. IDRF’s new grant will help in the installation of 35 hand-pumps in JE affected villages. This project will help around 7000 villagers to have access to safe drinking water for 8 years.
Musahar empowerment and livelihood project, Uttar Pradesh
The Musahars are one of the most socially and economically marginalized communities in North India. A three-year project in partnership with Manav Seva Sansthan in 20 villages of Kushinagar district, will focus on increasing economic opportunities for these people through the promotion of market oriented livelihood streams such as vegetable cultivation, goat rearing, candle making, and backyard poultry, etc. Skill development of youth in various marketable trades to enhance their employability and an improved access to health, nutrition, sanitation and social entitlements will also be undertaken. Apart from creating community awareness on rights and entitlements, the project will also facilitate, train and handhold the community to avail these services in order to empower them. This project will require us to raise $120,000 over three years to help the downtrodden Musahar community.
An infant suffering from Japanese Encephalitis
Medical Checkup of Children by a Health Worker
Japanese Encephalitis and hygiene awareness workshop at a school
Please click on the link to know more about Manav Seva Sansthan’s various programs.
Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti (MSS) is a non-government, social-service organization that started its work in 2003 and is committed to the empowerment of women in rural communities in Seloo Block, Wardha district, Maharashtra. Over the years MSS has supported several women’s self-help groups and helped in starting up various eco-friendly micro enterprises run by women in their own villages. Some of these enterprises like handmade soaps, candles, herbal products, fruit jam-making, gur (jaggery-organic brown sugar) production, bakery, and an organic cafeteria, etc. have become very successful and led to few more subsidiary units and boosted the employment opportunities in the villages considerably.
IDRF partner since: 2007
Focus Area: Women Empowerment, Health and Eco-friendly Development .
Location: Maharashtra
Project Title: Economic self-reliance through eco-friendly development
Details: The villages in Seloo Block were once famous for their banana and orange orchards. However, due to changes in climatic conditions, the fruit production started dwindling and poor villagers who were working on these horticulture farms started losing their source of livelihood. At that time Magan Sagrahalaya Samiti formed 1000 self-help groups in 100 villages and helped poor women in starting up eco-friendly micro-enterprises in their villages.
Due to lack of proper infrastructure facilities like bad roads, irregular electricity, dearth of water, and disagreeable conditions with the landlords in renting their spaces for setting up production units, led to a drain on the Samiti’s resources and spirits. In 2007 IDRF joined hands with Magan Sangrahalaya to purchase a spacious building along with a small well, adjacent to the main road. IDRF grant enabled the Samiti to carry out extensive repairs, extensions and installations in the building and house seven enterprises. These eco-friendly enterprises like solar processed food products, small utility items, spices, pickles, papad, waste paper products and school bags manufacturing provided direct employment to 30 rural women.
Next came the establishment of a rural bakery, gur production and few more subsidiary units that provided livelihood to women, youth and poor farmers in the areas. At present these rural enterprises are providing sustainable livelihood to around 500 poor rural women and reaching out to thousands of women of 100 villages of Seloo block.
IDRF has also funded a mini truck that facilitates transportation of women workers, raw material, machinery and finished products to remote villages. When MSS started the movement of Natural/Organic Farming, by mobilizing thousands of farmers to shift from chemical to natural farming techniques, IDRF funded the construction of a building and setting up the first Natural Farming Center in Wardha. This Center for Organic Farmers runs a training center, farm produce processing unit, workshop to repair and manufacture improved farm tools, an indigenous seed bank and organic cafeteria.
In a time span of ten years, more than 10,000 farmers have been trained in organic farming technology at this center. As the demand for training in organic farming grew, the center started attracting farmers from other states as well and the lack of space at the center could not accommodate the growing number of farmers interested in getting trained. Once again IDRF stepped in and funded the construction of the first Organic Farmers School in this region in the year 2016. The Farmers School is a “green building” constructed by local artisans using mud and terracotta and powered by solar energy. While the construction of the building was still underway, the Government of India chose this center as the Nodal Training Center for Natural Farming.
With IDRF’s support, what started as an experiment has turned into organized structures where local people, especially rural women are designing, planning and executing their dreams for a better world!
IDRF supported eco-friendly economic activities at Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti
Construction of Organic Farmers’ School
Please click on the link to learn more about the various eco-friendly programs run by Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti.
Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy (IAMD) is working since 1992 to provide relief and rehabilitation to the people afflicted with Muscular Dystrophy in India and also to create public awareness. Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive neuromuscular genetic disorder wherein the muscles gradually loose strength and results in immobility and dependence on others for everyday activities. It can occur at any age and affect more than one sibling in the family. In India, 4,000+ children are born with Muscular Dystrophy each year.
IDRF partner since: 2015
Focus Area: Health
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Project Title: Integrated Muscular Dystrophy Rehabilitation Centre -“Manav Mandir”
Details: IAMD received tremendous accolades from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 02 in his ’Man ki Baat’ broadcast IAMD is coming up with an Apex Centre at Solan, for complete care management including DNA and carrier testing, diagnosis, rehabilitation, orientation, rejuvenation, research and all therapies for the muscular dystrophy patients. After hearing about this rehabilitation center called “Manav Mandir” that will provide a wide range of services required to the patients under one roof, the Government of Himachal Pradesh took a proactive stance towards setting-up a central facility for dealing with muscular dystrophy, by providing 20,900 square feet of land to IAMD on a very nominal lease in 2009. Manav Mandir has received wide recognition and acclaim for treatment and rehabilitation of patients suffering from muscular dystrophy into society’s mainstream. IDRF has partnered with IAMD to support the construction of this 7-storied building which is earthquake resistant and incorporates many features of a “Green Building”. This eco-friendly building is about 75% completed and will reduce environmental impacts by using less energy, water, and natural gas, provide rainwater harvesting and use solar panels to reduce power consumption. At present it provides on-site residential care for 25 patients through physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, genetic and psychological counselling, diet plans and recreational activities. Health care and wheel chair support are provided at nominal or no cost to financially week patients. The institution plans to expand these facilities and accommodate at least 50 patients on-site, offer training to physiotherapists, volunteers and an advanced diagnostic and testing facility. We are seeking your generous help in raising the much needed funds for the construction of an auditorium, lecture hall and activity center for patients on the fourth floor. Funds are needed urgently to provide equipment and furnishings for the treatment of the patients on the second, third and fourth floors. In addition to the construction, it takes about $7-8,000 per month recurring expenses to run the institute for which we are seeking support too.
Existing/Proposed Services Floor-wise at Manav Mandir
Patient Ward-1 Unit: Male and Female Dormitories, Kitchen, Dining Hall, Multi-purpose Hall
First Floor
Construction completed
Special Ward and Dormitory Unit
Second Floor
Under construction
Diagnosis and Research Unit and Residential area for Researchers
Third Floor
Under Construction
Auditorium, Lecture Hall and Activity Area
Fourth Floor
Need Funds
Once all the facilities are established at Manav Mandir, this institution will not only be a first rate center for mitigating the sufferings of muscular dystrophy patients, but also provide guidance and understanding of the disease to the patients and their families and, help them to find courage and strength to uplift themselves mentally, emotionally and physically in order to lead a more normal life.
Manav Mandir– a 7-storied, earthquake resistant and “Green” Building
State of the art physical therapy using special gadgets is offered for patients
Hydrotherapy in an indoor heated pool and steam facility is available for patients
Psychological counselling is an important part of rehabilitation
Outdoor picnics and recreational activities are regularly held to bridge the social gap and help the patients and families bond with each other
Please click on the link to learn more about Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy.
Dharma Vana Arboretum (DVA) is under development in the Bhongir mandal, District Nalgonda, Telangana. It is being established to conserve the biodiversity of woody flora found throughout the Deccan Plateau and Eastern Ghats in India. The DVA spreads over an area of 455 acres near Hyderabad and is the largest botanic park focused on tropical dry flora worldwide.
IDRF partner since: 2016
Focus Area: Eco-friendly Development
Location: Telangana
Project Title: Biodiversity Conservation
Details: Dharma Vana Arboretum is a biodiversity conservation project for tropical dryland flora facing pressures from increasing human and livestock populations. Loss of this biodiversity results in degradation of fragile ecosystem and economic hardship to the poor communities dependent on this ecosystem for their subsistence. Situated just outside of Hyderabad, the landscape is a pristine example of un-spoilt Deccan geology.
The main emphasis of the project is on conserving rare and endangered species of native trees and shrubs of the Peninsular India in a ‘wild’ setting. The long-term goal of this project is to re-establish an ecosystem suitable to dry tropical flora and complementary native fauna with over fifty thousand woody plants. While in its early stage of development, DVA serves the local community (Bhongir town and neighboring villages) with all the benefits of an emerging ‘Green lung’, significant water conservation works, and youth employment. IDRF is funding part construction of infrastructure and facilities of the arboretum that is scheduled to be partially opened to public by 2020 for education, research and enjoyment of nature.
Water Lilies at the Dharma Vana Arboretum
Visit to Dharma Vana Arboretum in Hyderabad by IDRF Supporters/Volunteers Reflections of the visit: December, 2017
On a bright, sunny and cool day in December 2017 in Hyderabad, our small group was given an up-close and personal tour of Dharma Vana Arboretum by the founder and the heart and soul of the organization, Mr. Fred Durr. DVA is a non-profit society that emphasizes nature, environment and its sustenance through biodiversity conservation. In short, it’s all about ecosystem restoration. Located in the heart of India on the outskirts of Hyderabad in Bhongir, it is an expanse of 450 acres dedicated to the conservation of trees and shrubs of arid zone regions worldwide.
The land exhibits several microclimates with their respective flora and fauna on natural vistas of hillocks and rock formations typical of the semi-arid Deccan Plateau region. Seeing the park through the founder’s fertile mind, we were blown away by his imagination, creativity and just plain hard work for his life’ passion. He painstakingly researched plants and brought the best specimens from growers and would spend many days in Indian forests at the time of the seed formation to collect them before the forest creatures would! He then nurtured them in a several acre nursery where he invented and built machinery to grind up coconut husks for compost which was used to bring health back to the land. He even offered the compost to the city municipality!
The plan for the Arboretum calls for discrete areas to showcase different flora and areas to represent major religions with sculptures created by the founder himself. These can be used as places for meditation in the years to come. Since it is becoming increasingly difficult for the general public to access India’s forests, many of the wild tree species planted at the DVA would serve as a major showcase of true representatives of the jungles. The arboretum can be integral to teaching respect for forests and even function as a seed bank for replenishing wild flora as the need arises. Mr. Durr’s dedication and the amazing way in which he manages the intricacies of India’s myriad regulations just makes me even more certain of the fruition of his dream!
Drs. Krishna and Nilima Jayaraman (Maryland, USA)
Please click on the links to know more about Dharma Vana Arboretum project.
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/
Shopping Basket
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.
Menuka Basola, a 67 years old female was brought to the hospital after suffering from prolapse for three years. She as very reluctant to share her medical problem at home and finally one day, when her son saw her in great discomfort, he immediately brought her to the hospital. Upon examination, the doctors found out that she was suffering from pelvic organ prolapse, stage 3. She underwent a successful surgery and was given one week of post-operative care at no cost to her. When she was discharged, she left the hospital with a big smile on her face.
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.
