India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI) www.idfoi.nic.in is a not for profit Trust established in 2008 by Government of India with the approval of the Cabinet to serve as a credible institutional avenue to enable overseas Indians to engage in philanthropy to supplement India's social and development efforts. The New Delhi-based Trust is chaired by Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs and is exempt from the provisions of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA). According to Smt. Sushma Swaraj the Indian diaspora is a very heterogeneous group and there is a common factor which binds them- their desire to maintain connection with their homeland and to contribute to the social and development efforts in India. IDF-OI seeks to strengthen and deepen this relationship.IDF-OI”. The Chairperson of the IDF-OI Board of Trustees is Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs, the Vice Chairman is Shri Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Secretary (OIA and CPV) Ministry of External Affairs and the CEO is Smt. Vani Rao, Joint Secretary (OIA), Ministry of External Affairs. Other Board members are prominent Overseas Indians and eminent Indians who have an active interest in philanthropy. Board Members Eminent Overseas Indians Dr Bharat Haridas Barai- Medical Director of the Cancer Institute, Methodist Hospitals, Indiana, USA Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A.- Chairman and Managing Director, Lulu International, UAE Mr. Y. Sudhir Shetty- President, UAE Exchange Centre, UAE Mr. Govind Sovale- President, Indo-Swiss Center, Switzerland. Eminent Resident Indians Sri Sri Ravi Shankar- President, The Art of Living Mr. Vara Prasad Rongala- Managing Director, Invensis Technologies Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw- Managing Director, GE Transportation Swami Chidanand Saraswati- President, Parmarth Niketan Ashram Ex-Officio Members Shri Rajiv Mehrishi, Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Dept of Economic Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog IDF-OI Board of Trustees Mandate In 2015, IDF-OI’s mandate was revised to channelize contributions from Overseas Indians towards Government’s flagship programmes – National Mission for Clean Ganga; Swachh Bharat Mission, and social and development projects of by State Governments. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission), a national campaign by the Government of India, aims to accomplish the vision of a 'Clean India' by October 2, 2019, the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Similarly, the National Mission for Clean Ganga aims to integrate the efforts to clean and protect the river Ganga. IDF-OI is also partnering with the State Govts to select projects