Tata Trusts’ thrust

In keeping with the late J. R. D. Tata’s belief that "what came from the people must go back to the people, manifold,” the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust disbursed over Rs 17,000 crores (US $ 33.31 million) over the past year towards its philanthropic endeavors. Ratan Tata, chairperson, writes in his message in the annual report 2011-2012 that currently the Trusts are working in over 170 districts across India "on issues as water, agriculture, education, health, sanitation and micro-finance.” Now that he has retired as chairman of Tata Sons, he will continue to lend his energies and expertise fulltime to the management of the Trusts. A copy of the report, printed on recycled paper, was sent to Parsiana by Firdaus Gandavia, secretary and chief accountant.
While the lion’s share, Rs 138,63,10,000 (US $ 27.18 million) was used for program grants during the last year, small grants touched Rs 2,38,40,000 (US $ 0.47 million) and disbursals to individuals amounted to Rs 28,88,30,000 (US $ 5.66 million). Among the institutional grants were those that helped in the areas of rural livelihoods and communities, education, health, enhancing civil society and governance, arts, crafts and culture. The small grants program, launched in 1998-99, is tailored to test new ideas and innovations, among other things. Major medical expenses and higher education were sponsored via individual grants.
The Sir Ratan Tata Trust, established in 1919 is one of the country’s oldest philanthropic institutions. The Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust, set up in 1974, works with the former in reaching out to the needy. Over the past 80 years the Tata Trusts have created a systematic program, tying up with hundreds of NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) across India. For example, they have started projects to provide drinking water and better sanitation to over 500 villages, bringing these basic facilities to over 160,000 households across the country.