NEW DELHI: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday urged Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates to focus on developing Indian villages into 'model villages' by initiating new technologies in fields of agriculture and sanitation.
Singh, during his meeting with Gates, co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, appreciated the various welfare works being undertaken by the US donor in India. The home minister requested Gates to expand its health awareness programmes in India and develop "model villages" so that the local people get inspired. Gates, on his part, explained the various technologies being adopted by them in the field of agriculture and sanitation.
The meeting comes even as the Gates Foundation-funded Indian NGO, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), was stripped of its licence to receive foreign funds earlier this year over violations of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, 2010.
The Gates Foundation was one of the donors to this NGO. The home minister appreciating various welfare works being undertaken by it hinted that the PHFI controversy has had no impact on Gates Foundation's partnership with the Indian government.
Both Bill and his wife Melinda Gates were awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour, by the Modi government in 2015.
According to a PTI report, a Gates Foundation spokesperson, when asked whether the issue related to cancellation of
PHFI's FCRA licence came up for discussion on Thursday, denied that anything "of that sort was discussed."
Singh, during his meeting with Gates, co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, appreciated the various welfare works being undertaken by the US donor in India. The home minister requested Gates to expand its health awareness programmes in India and develop "model villages" so that the local people get inspired. Gates, on his part, explained the various technologies being adopted by them in the field of agriculture and sanitation.
The meeting comes even as the Gates Foundation-funded Indian NGO, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), was stripped of its licence to receive foreign funds earlier this year over violations of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act, 2010.
The Gates Foundation was one of the donors to this NGO. The home minister appreciating various welfare works being undertaken by it hinted that the PHFI controversy has had no impact on Gates Foundation's partnership with the Indian government.
Both Bill and his wife Melinda Gates were awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour, by the Modi government in 2015.
According to a PTI report, a Gates Foundation spokesperson, when asked whether the issue related to cancellation of
PHFI's FCRA licence came up for discussion on Thursday, denied that anything "of that sort was discussed."
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