Centre may tap NRIs for clean india

The government will reach out to non-resident Indians (NRIs), especially those living in the UK and Qatar, to raise funds for ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Clean Ganga’ projects.

India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians IDF-OI, a not-for-profit trust set-up by Overseas Indian Affairs ministry will also create a focus group for facilitating contributions by NRIs in the forthcoming Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Conference, 2016.

This was discussed during the fifth meeting of the board of trustees of IDF-OI, chaired by minister for overseas Indian affairs Sushma Swaraj.

The board directed that IDF-OI to enhance its outreach among overseas Indians, through visits to the UK and Qatar. During the meeting, IDF-OI informed the board that under the Swachh Bharat Mission, overseas Indians were invited to fund construction of household, community and public toilets in both urban and rural areas.

IDF has also invited contributions for the National Mission for Clean Ganga. In response to IDF-OI’s request, several state governments have identified social and development projects in their respective states.