The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation undertakes its activities by collaborating with other Non-Govemmental Organisations (NGOs) and Government bodies. When a project is approved by the Foundation, it enters into a written agreement or Memorandum of Understanding with the partner organisation(s). The Foundation then undertakes full or partial funding of the project and undertakes the monitoring, coordination and assessment work as necessary. The execution of the project is normally the responsibility of the partner organisation.
In the selection of project models or proposals, the Foundation gives preference to projects
iii. Which have clear and identifiable objectives and which lend themselves to periodic evaluation and monitoring against specific performance indicators?
Project proposals being given to the Foundation should contain the following features
iii. Area of coverage and target population.
vii. Time schedule for implementation giving a realistic chart of completion of each activity/ phase so that firm indicators are available for evaluating the progress.
viii. Details of the budget estimates (separately for recurring and non-recurring and separately for each head) along with justification for each item of expenditure.
The Foundation does not extend assistance for construction of building, purchase of land or purchase of vehicles.
In the case of NGOs, the project proposal must be sent along with the following documents about the NGO
iii Copy of the last published Annual Report, auditor’s report and balance sheet.
vii. Signed declaration by the principal investigator or the head of the NGO accepting responsibility for the contents of the project proposal.
WOMEN & CHILDREN’S WELFARE UNIT
Programme Vision
We believe that women and children be full participants in the development process. Our programmes aim to
Guidelines for collaboration in Projects for Women & Children
After decades of development, it has been recognised that women and children have remained marginalised in the development process, even through they are primary users and managers of natural resources. Shri Rajiv Gandhi believed that problems were best solved by involving those who were directly affected by them. Thus women and children should directly participate in solving their own problems. The Foundation endeavours to evolve innovative projects to make women and children participants and beneficiaries of the development process and utilise their traditional knowledge base to make development projects more efficient and ecology friendly.
Rather than duplicate the efforts of the Government of women and children, the Foundation hopes to fill in the gaps between the voluntary agencies working at the micro level and the State which operates at the macro level, by working closely with Government, voluntary agencies and individuals. Essentially, its role is that of a catalyst. It welcomes innovative projects which are potentially replicable in other parts of the country.
The Objectives are :
Rural sector
In this sector, the emphasis has to be placed on reducing the burden of fuel, fodder and water collection on women and children and hence providing them with more time to engage in income generating programmes. The strategy comprises :
iii. Adoption of a holistic approach for the empowerment of women belonging to specially disadvantaged groups through education, awareness creation and skill formation.
Urban sector
In this sector emphasis is to be placed on :
iii. Development of support systems to schools to increase enrolment of slum and street children and combat the school dropout syndrome.
The following type of projects will not be considered :
iii. Village sewing centres.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS 2003-2004
Healing the wounds of conflict
Rehabilitating street children
Women’s empowerment
LITERACY UNIT
Programme Vision
Our goal is to support projects that
Guidelines for Collaboration in Literacy Projects
Providing literacy to all was among the topmost concerns of Shri Rajiv Gandhi. He considered literacy an essential prerequisite for implementing the development tasks before the nation and for the effective functioning of a democratic society. It was this conviction that led to the launching of the National Literacy Mission on May 5, 1988. The promotion of literacy was therefore, adopted by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) as one of its priorities.
Rather than aim to duplicate the large scale efforts of the National Literacy Mission, the RGF supplements and strengthens the areas which may merit closer attention, by working closely with various Non-Governmental Organisations, individuals and the Government. The aims and objectives of the Literacy Unit encompass the following strategies and spheres of activity:
iii. Producing suitable printed materials for neolith rates which would weave in the locate specific cultural threads into learning material, so that it is interesting and attractive to the reader and which may, wherever possible, be evolved by the local people at regional and village level to meet area specific needs.
PANCHAYATI RAJ
Programme Vision
Rajiv Gandhi ushered in the Panchayati Raj revolution in India through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. Our goal is to keep faith with his vision by focusing on
Strengthening the Role of Women in Grassroots Democracy
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY UNIT
Programme Vision
The Foundation supports programmes that harness science and technology to the everyday needs of the people. It focuses on initives which use science and technology to-
> Improve the lives of the poor
> Promote rural development
> Project the environment
Guidelines for Collaboration in Science & Technology Projects
The Foundation will generate activities and support ideas in the field of science and technology that meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. The application of science and technology in the service of the people, particularly the poor and the deprived, in areas of greatest social and economic need, was of special interest to Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The Foundation will concentrate its activities on practical programmes of bringing the benefits of science and technology to the common man.
The Foundation recognises that funding for science and technology programmes is at present available from several national and international agencies. It will, therefore, support projects of scientific and social relevance which fall outside these traditional sources of support, or which are innovative and yet people-based in nature.
The Foundation will identify appropriate people/voluntary agencies/institutions working in the field of science and technology and encourage/support them in their activities.
In the area of Science & Technology, the Foundation will give preference to
iii. Projects which reach the benefits of research done previously to the people in a systematic and phased manner.
Proposal in the Science and Technology sector must contain a review of relevant scientific information/ situational status report.
HIGHLIGHTS 2003-2004
DISABLED PERSONS’ WELFARE UNIT
Programme Vision
We work towards enabling the disabled to develop their potential and face the world on equal terms. Our programmes promote.
Guidelines for Collaboration in Projects for the Welfare of Disabled Persons
Shri Rajiv Gandhi was deeply concerned about the welfare of disabled persons. He firmly believed that all impediments to their full and equal participation in nation-building should be removed. The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has, therefore, decided to concentrate on the well fare of disabled persons as one of its primary objectives.
Since its inception in May, 1992, the Disabled Person’s Welfare Unit has actively promoted the cause of the disabled through various projects and programmes across the country. On the basis of our objectives, it is proposed that in the coming years, as we march into the 21st century, the Foundation should work:
iii. To match the needs of potential employers with the capabilities of disabled people and set up systems for this purpose.
vii. To support projects aimed specifically towards the welfare of the rural disabled, women with disabilities and the severely/multiple disabled.
Rather than duplicating the work of the Government and Non-Government Organisations, the Foundation would like to fill in the gaps in the ongoing programmes by taking up innovative projects that demonstrate an integrated approach for improving the quality of life of the disabled. The Foundation would like to function as a catalyst by working closely with Government, voluntary agencies and individuals.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS 2003-2004
Equal rights for the disabled : Accessible environment
Rehabilitation of the disable
HEALTH UNIT
Programme Vision
Our goal is to evolve and support innovative public healthcare strategies that are accessible and affordable. Our programmes focus on
Guidelines for Collaboration in Health Projects
The Foundation recognizes the health of the people of India as a developmental imperative and as integral to the effort to realize Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of a strong and self-reliant India. It is, therefore, committed to support purposeful initiatives which are likely to advance health care and foster health promotion, particularly among women and children.
The Foundation recognizes that funding for health care delivery and health care research is at present available from several national and international agencies. It will, therefore, support projects of scientific and social relevance which fall outside these traditional sources of support.
Specifically, in the Health Sector, the. Foundation will give preference to:
iii. Projects which promote and evaluate, in a scientific milieu, the integration of alternate systems of medicine, particularly traditional systems of Indian medicine, with the esternized model of national health care system, using modern medicine.
The Foundation will not subsidize or supplement individual Or group health care as relief activity but will only fund projects which specifically address issues in accordance with the listed guidelines.
The proposal must contain a review of relevant scientific information/situational status report for an operational programme.
Project proposals may be submitted to
Adviser/Programme Officer (Concerned Unit), Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Jawahar Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110 001, Tel: 091-011-23755117,23755118,23312456,23312458, 23325980, 23755128, Fax : 091-011-23755119, Email : rgf@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in , Internet: http://www.rgfindia.com