National Foundation For Communal Harmony

November 19, 2000

1. India has witnessed some of the worst communal strife in the past few decades. In the wake of the deteriorating communal situation in the country during 1991-92, the Government of India set up a National Foundation For Communal Harmony with a view to promoting communal harmony, national integration and fraternity. The Foundation is attached to the Union Home Ministry with the Union Home Minister as Chairman of the Governing Council consisting of, amongst others, Ministers for Human Resource Development, Welfare and Information & Broadcasting. The Governing Council has a number of eminent persons representing media, industry, art, culture, literature, social work etc as its members.

2. The primary objective of the Foundation is to raise funds for children affected by communal strife for their maintenance and education till they attain the age of 18 years. The Foundation also aims at helping these children to stand on their own feet and become useful citizens, forgetting the trauma of violence. The Foundation has, thus far, helped about 300 children, most of whom have been able to overcome the trauma of loss of their dear ones and are engaged in restructuring their lives in a way which is beneficial to themselves as well as to the nation.

3. The Foundation has so far assisted 1378 children in various states and spent Rs.369.00 lakhs on their education and subsistence. It provides financial assistance to such children at the rate of Rs.550/- per month per child in "A" and "B" class cities and Rs.500/- per month per child in other states for their maintenance and education.

4. Inspite of massive Government grant received by the Foundation in the year 1992, the amount has not been adequate enough to carry forward the multifarious activities of the Foundation, such as campaign against communalism, casteism and terrorist violence and rehabilitation of child victims of such violence. The Foundation has, therefore, been every year observing "Fund Raising and Communal Harmony Week" and "Flag Day" during the month of November to augment its resources through generous contribution and donations from individuals and organizations in India and abroad. While the Foundation is observing "Fund Raising and Communal Harmony Week" from November 19 to 25, which will culminate into observance of "Flag Day" on November 23 to raise donations for this laudable cause, the Foundation looks forward to financial support from the huge ‘Non-Resident Indians’ and ‘Persons of Indian Origin’ living abroad.

In this connection, those interested in making contributions to this holy cause may draw a cheque in favour of "National Foundation For Communal Harmony" and mail the same to the Indian Consulate at 540 Arguello Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118, for sending it to the Fund.

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