India Care Foundation

India Care Foundation
Name	India Care Foundation
Formation	1998
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	New Delhi
Leader title	Founder

India Care Foundation

India Care Foundation is a charitable non-governmental organization established in 1998 and based in New Delhi. It operates across multiple Indian states and collaborates with international agencies, corporate foundations, and philanthropic individuals to deliver health, relief, and community services. The foundation engages with a network of hospitals, universities, and civil society groups to implement programs targeting vulnerable populations.

History

The foundation was founded in 1998 amid increased activity by Indian and international NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, CARE International, Save the Children, and Red Cross affiliates. Early work involved partnerships with institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Tata Memorial Hospital, and coordination with state-level bodies in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Karnataka. Over time the foundation expanded contacts to include multinational donors such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, and World Health Organization, and engaged in emergency response during events like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, and the 2013 Uttarakhand floods.

Mission and Objectives

The stated mission prioritizes health access, disaster relief, and social welfare, aligning goals with institutions such as Indian Council of Medical Research, National Health Mission, Ministry of Home Affairs (India), NITI Aayog, and academic partners like Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Delhi. Objectives include strengthening primary care through collaborations with State Health Departments (India), supporting oncology referrals via Tata Trusts, promoting maternal and child health with UNICEF, and building capacity through training programs involving All India Institute of Speech and Hearing and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs have included mobile clinics modeled after services provided by Indian Red Cross Society and immunization drives similar to campaigns by Polio National Immunization Program, vaccination initiatives in cooperation with GAVI Alliance, and screening camps inspired by Aravind Eye Care System outreach. Education and livelihood projects drew on frameworks used by Pratham, SEWA, and Akshaya Patra Foundation, while disaster preparedness followed protocols from National Disaster Management Authority (India) and international guidelines from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Rehabilitation work involved referral networks linking to AIIMS Trauma Centre, Snehagram, and community health models like those at Rural Health Training Centre (Anand).

Organizational Structure and Governance

The governance model follows trust and board structures comparable to Tata Group philanthropic boards and Azim Premji Foundation governance practices. A board of trustees directs strategy and oversight, and advisory committees include specialists from Indian Medical Association, Public Health Foundation of India, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, and legal advisors familiar with Companies Act, 2013 compliance and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act obligations. Regional offices coordinate with state-level cell structures similar to State Disaster Response Force liaison units, while program implementation leverages partnerships with State Health Societies and academic incubators at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources have comprised philanthropic grants from entities like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Tata Trusts, and Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, corporate social responsibility contributions from firms such as Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever, and Infosys Foundation, and individual donors including diaspora networks linked to Federation of Indian Associations. Collaborative grants and memoranda of understanding have been signed with international agencies including World Health Organization, UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral donors tied to Department for International Development and USAID. Financial oversight practices emulate standards recommended by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and audit customs used by Grant Thornton India.

Impact and Recognition

The foundation's reported outcomes include thousands of medical camps echoing public health initiatives by National Rural Health Mission, disaster relief deployments comparable to those by National Disaster Management Authority (India), and livelihood training reflecting models from National Skill Development Corporation. Recognition has come in forms similar to awards conferred by National Foundation for Communal Harmony, state-level honors from Government of Maharashtra and Government of Uttar Pradesh, and appreciation letters from institutions like AIIMS and Tata Memorial Hospital. Peer organizations such as HelpAge India, Pratham, and CRY have cited collaborative efforts on joint programs, while coverage in media outlets following the styles of The Hindu, Times of India, and Indian Express highlighted field interventions.

Category:Non-profit organisations based in India