Tuesday, 23 June 2015

EWIF is a Western Region Foundation for North East People

To My Dear Friends in the North East

As you may be aware, I was first introduced to the NER in some detail, in January 2004. I have attempted to engage with the region and its people since.

Besides offering strategy consulting services of Advanced Strategies Pvt. Ltd. for business start-ups and expansion assignments I have also started up a not-for-profit Section 25 Company under the Indian Companies Act, incorporated in November 2012. The activities are still nascent.

The purpose has been to create an open platform for Rural Empowerment & Livelihood Creation  in the North East Region, as a mutually beneficial partnership between the Western Region and North East India. Hence called the EWI Development Initiative Foundation or East West Interconnect Foundation. Web site at www.eastwestinterconnect.org.in

The role of EWIF & its value proposition -
  • To help in grants fund raise (funding agencies including Cent, State & Local Govts) & disbursement, 
  • Strategic, Technical & Financial Partner Management, 
  • Project monitoring, advisory and reporting - for upstream activities related to creation of livelihood.
The NER Social Entrepreneurs (Self Help Groups, Farmers Cooperatives, Food Producing Companies/Organisations etc.) are at the focus and as such the beneficiaries. The projects belong to them and NOT TO EWIF.

Projects have to be initiated by locals in villages and village clusters in the backward districts of the NER. 

Thereafter, we at EWIF need a detailed briefing as to who will do it, what is proposed to be done, unencumbered land availability and demographic details of the village / cluster of villages. 

We at EWIF will seek to have a working arrangement with the villagers / Social Entrepreneurs through a Memorandum Of Understanding.

Thereafter, EWIF will work with the Social Entrepreneurs to identify partners for technical and financial support, and form working arrangements with them.

Funds will be applied for. After funding is provided, projects may be taken forward.

This clarification is provided as many in the North East assume that EWIF will OWN & RUN the projects. This is not true. The projects belong to locals in the NER. We are a helping hand with experienced connections and resources. EWIF will retain administrative and management costs from the funds raised for the projects, for EWIF's own sustenance.

So EWIF is not MY FOUNDATION. Its really a Western Region Foundation for North East People. We have a NER Youth Program as well to help NER Youth in Mumbai & Pune. See http://bit.ly/ewif_youth1

I may have created this, but its for you, please understand this. Personally I cannot earn in any way from the running of the Foundation. 

Hence, if the levels of activity are adequate and North East persons find it useful, EWIF will continue. Else it will have no hesitation in shutting down. The choice is yours.

Thanks & regards

Rajiv Bhatia
Director

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