India Rural Development Action Programme May 2, 2008

Volunteers from Chicago will provide the short ride from Club House Inn or Homestead Suites to the meeting rooms on both days.

Morning session
MODERATOR: Ram Krishnan

Ram Krishnan9:00 - 9:30 am
Speaker: Ram Krishnan
(20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion)

Gist of Rural India Learning Journey Trip
Lessons with a 10 minute video clip



Each of the following five presenters will share with us their knowledge of why they started their projects, how they acquired the project knowledge, what were the difficulties encountered, how they solved them; their advice for others, approximate cost, and the time horizon of their projects.

Bibek and Purnima Ray9:30 - 10:00 am
Speakers: Bibek and Purnima Ray
(20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion)

Both Bibek Ray and his wife Purnima, completed their career as University Professors in the US and focused on their projects in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. They have created a 'seva kendra' (community center) that provides various services to the people in the village.

10:00 am - 10:30 am
Speaker: Sanjay Bhatt - (young professional)
(20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion)

Sanjay Bhatt joined Indicorps and helped an organization trying to build 100,000 tribal schools catalog its program and utilize collected material to provide complete transparency and details about its operations to supporters around the world. Sanjay evaluated the organization, as an independent third party, and worked with it to better manage its organization to effectively and transparently evaluate how true it is to its mission of educating India's most neglected children. Project Video by Sanjay on YouTube.

Dr. Roda Patel10:30 - 11:00 am
Speaker: Roda Patel - an MD, Pediatrician
(20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion)

An Indian-American doctor, had a flourishing practice at Northbrook, Illinois. She closed down her practice in the US to dedicate time and attention to a pediatric center for impoverished children in Gujarat. "The joy one feels in seeing these sad, malnourished, frightened children transform into happy, healthy ones ready to face and dream about tomorrow, is beyond compare," she says. More about the health center in Navsari Gujarat at http://www.gramseva.org

11:00 - 11:20 am
BREAK

Prof. Rajagopal11:20 - 11:40 am
Speaker: Rajagopal (University of Iowa),
university exchange program
(10 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion)

Over the winter break Professors R. Rajagopal and Ed Brands led a team of 23 Iowan students for a 3-week period to Tamil Nadu, India to visit, participate with, and learn directly from social entrepreneurs in eight organizations that employ a diverse array of techniques to address social problems such as child labor, unemployment, poverty, healthcare for the poor, illiteracy, community waste management, and schools for the handicapped. http://akash-ganga-rwh.com/RILJ/Prof-Rajagopal-Univ-of-Iowa-student-visit-to-India.doc

Prof. Deepshika Gupta11:40 am - 12:00 pm
Speaker: Deepshika Gupta, St.Kate University, St.Paul MN, university exchange program
(10 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion)

Deepshika has established a program to take 20+ students from St.Catherine's college to visit India and focus on 'the progress of the rural women in North India'.

D.V. Giri12:00 - 12:45 pm
Speaker: DV Giri

Tribal rural projects
Orphanages for boys and girls
Building homes for Bhuj earthquake victims
Discussion

12:45 - 2:15 pm
LUNCH BREAK

Amarjit Singh on his work to promote higher education for women in rural Rajasthan (10 minute talk followed by 10 minute discussion)

Saturday, May 3rd -- Afternoon Session
MODERATOR: DV Giri
Raj Rajaram
Jay Sehgal

2:15 - 2:45 pm
Speakers: Raj Rajaram and Jay Sehgal

Some of the key NGOs who are doing a good job in rural India:
IDCA – India Development Coalition of America, Chicago IL
IRRAD – Institute of Rural Research and Development, Gurgaon, Haryana

2:45 - 3:15 pm
Speaker: Ram Krishnan

Sample projects - size, cost, time line

3:15 - 3:45 PM
Speaker: DV Giri

How do we communicate the Learning Journey's experience to other interested Indian Americans (including young Indian Americans)? What each Indian American can do to inspire other Indian Americans to involve themselves in India's rural development.
Discussion

3:45 - 4:05 pm
BREAK

4:05 - 5:00 pm
Speaker: Ram Krishnan

Specific project possibilities and sponsorships - signing up

7:00 pm
DINNER

Ashok Malhotra will make a presentation on educational projects in rural Rajasthan and Gujarat (20 minute presentation to be followed by 10 minute discussion)

PARTICIPATION FEE: $50.00 per participant. The lunch and dinner expenses will be collected at the conference, on a pro rata basis.

REGISTRATION: Please register with IDCA email: [email protected] (with copy to [email protected]). Registrants may send the check for $50.00 to IDCA, PO BOX 4673,Oakbrook, IL 60522-4673.

Official Website: http://usindiafriendship.net/rural-india/ChicagoConference.htm