A Trust has been floated, called India Development Foundation (IDF), to enable  non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to contribute to society back in India.

This is a key initiative of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to bring NRIs and PIOs, numbering over 25 million, under its mainstream socio-economic objectives at the rural level.

Disclosing this at  Pravasi Bharati Divas, held between January 7 and 9 at Chennai, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr. Vayalar Ravi said the trust has been formed under the Indian Trust Act and would focus on three social areas - education, healthcare and uplift of self-help groups (SHGs).

The objective of the trust is to facilitate NRIs/PIOs to support primary schools, hospitals and SHGs at their villages/districts. Indian residing abroad can also send in their money to the Trust, which will coordinate with State Governments and NGOs to execute their wishes transparently and quickly, Mr. Ravi said. The Trust's activities will be open to Social Audit.