|
The Sir Ratan Tata Trust is one
of India's oldest grant-bestowing foundations. It was
established in 1918 following the death of Sir Ratan
Tata, the younger son of Group founder Jamsetji Tata
and it operates in accordance with his will. Sir Ratan
wanted to establish a trust that would help further
"the advancement of education, learning and industry
in all its branches".
The Trust broadly makes two types
of grants: institutional grants, under which come programme
grants, endowment grants and small grants; and individual
grants, which are medical and educational grants. During
2005-06, the total disbursals made by the Trust rose
to Rs 583.54 million ($12.97 million). This was an increase
of 14 per cent over the previous year.
The two types of grants offered
are:
| Institutional
grants |
| programme
grants |
endowment
grants |
small
grant programme |
| A. |
Programme
grants |
| |
rural
livelihoods and communities |
education
| health
| arts
and culture |
civil society
and governance |
| |
Rural
livelihoods and communities
Enhancing rural livelihoods
and strengthening rural communities is the aim of
the Trust's grant-making endeavours. Within this
theme the Trust focuses on two broad areas:
|
| |
|
Land and water development
Grants under this head are in the following broad
initiatives:
Water-sector research: A second phase of
a five-year initiative with the IWMI-Tata water
policy program that engages Indian and global scientific
and resource management institutions in practical
agenda of water sector research and policy-level
dialogue.
Central India Initiative (CInI): CInI involves
a series of livelihood projects across the central
India region, addressing core issues aimed at alleviating
poverty amongst tribals in a sustainable manner.
Kharash Vistarotthan Yojana: Earlier called
'Gujarat Salinity Prevention and Mitigation Initiative';
it tackles issues related to sea water ingress on
the Gujarat coastline through field projects and
co-ordination with the state government.
Himmothan Pariyojana: Earlier called 'Resolving
the Himalayan Dilemma', the initiative addresses
some of the key rural development issues confronting
the inhabitants of the Himalayas on a systematic
basis.
Reviving the Green Revolution: The initiative
involves a series of interventions encouraging crop
diversification in Punjab to tackle the negative
impact of the rice-wheat cropping system.
Drought-proofing in Rajasthan: Supporting
organisations to create lasting solutions by evolving
technological and organisational innovations for
integrated development of the drought-prone areas
of Rajasthan. Support is also given for drought
relief activities in west Rajasthan. |
| |
|
Micro-finance
The Trust has encouraged the promotion of saving
and credit groups, with a view to organise communities,
improve access to finance, and encourage asset creation.
The Trust also encourages deeper linkages between
micro-finance and development through a focus on
under-served areas and communities. It has a regional
initiative in Rajasthan, now called 'Sakh Se Vikas'.
In the area of strengthening linkages between microfinance
and development, it has supported a large community-based
micro-finance programme in South India and efforts
in community-based health financing. Research through
the SRTT fund for research collaborations at IIM-Ahmedabad
feeds into these efforts.The Trust disbursed Rs
252 million (US $ 5.60 million) in 2005-06 towards
67 grants in this thematic area. |
| |
|
| |
Education
The Trust has committed
itself to improving the quality of education in
India through efforts in the following areas: |
| |
|
Reforming elementary
education
Under this sub-theme, the Trust supports work that
has systemic implication, whilst focusing on critical
gap areas in the education sector. Consequently,
the Trust supports:
- Organisations working towards reforming the
education system at block / district level by
engaging with education administration and the
parent community
- Subject-based interventions in government
schools to improve curriculum and teaching methods
- Innovation among state institutions
- Professional development of teachers
- Development and dissemination of educational
material
- Learning centre initiatives
|
| |
|
Nurturing education
as a field of study
Despite the widespread recognition of the importance
of education in social development, education as
a discipline has remained severely underdeveloped.
Hence, there is a dearth of shared and informed
body of knowledge that guides sound policy decisions
or practices in the field. The Trust therefore supports:
- Educational research with focus on comparative
studies
- Linking higher education with elementary education
through collaborative networks, fellowships
and research
|
| |
|
Building institutional
resources in education
Institution-building has been an important area
of focus for the Trust. Here, the Trust focuses
on supporting:
- Alternative and heritage schools through providing
support for their institutional growth and strengthening
- Strategic support to innovative institutions
for higher learning, especially in the field
of education. Support is also provided for linking
departments / institutions from smaller towns
to institutes known for their academic excellence
During 2005-06, the Trust disbursed Rs 77.54
million (US $ 1.72 million) towards 31 grants
in this thematic area.
|
| |
|
| |
Health
In this sphere the Trust
focuses its efforts in the following areas:
|
| |
|
Community-based
initiatives
These
include initiatives that evolve innovative delivery
systems focusing on rural areas. Close linkage
with community outreach programs emphasising preventive
care have been supported.
|
| |
|
Specialised care
for the disadvantaged
While the
Trust has encouraged support to diverse efforts
from care to the terminally ill to geriatric homes,
it has emphasised the role of the family, quality
of care, deinstitutionalisation and cost effectiveness
in the programs. One of the sub themes in this area
is the trusts focus on mental health. |
| |
|
Building organisational
capacities:
The support of the Trust in this area aims to leverage
the rich experience of practitioners to build perspectives
and skills for careers in public and community health.
It has also encouraged support to specialist and
renowned institutions to offer skill development
programs, especially those working in the non profit
context.
The Trust disbursed Rs
24.28 million (US $ 0.54 million) in 2005-06 towards
12 grants in this theme.
|
| |
|
| |
Arts
and culture
The arts and culture
portfolio of the Trust emphasises 'institution-building'
in the arts as its overall goal, whilst concentrating
on four sub-thematic areas: arts management, advanced
learning in the arts, arts education and art therapy.
Of these, the two leading areas are: |
| |
|
Arts management
This is a major thrust area. The portfolio expects
to invest in major grants in theatre and visual
arts. Among the highlights, the 'Regenerating Theatre'
programme in collaboration with the India Foundation
for the Arts (IFA), a Forum on Theatre Policy project
involving theatre groups nationwide, and anchored
by the Prithvi Theatre, a visual arts programme
involving five initiatives in five Indian cities,
anchored by Khoj, and the 'Bhopal Arts Renewal Programme'
which will also explore Trust A&C policy with
respect to arts institutions formerly funded by
the state. |
| |
|
Advanced learning in
the arts
This addresses participation with University departments
from the humanities seeking disciplinary restructuring.
Among the important University departments involved,
the Trust supports the Lalit Kala Kendra —
University of Pune, the A.J Kidwai Mass Communications
Research Centre — Jamia Millia Islamia University,
New Delhi, and the School of Interior Design —-
Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology,
Ahmedabad.
The Trust additionally
supports institutions in arts therapy that introduce
new issues of mental health into the arts, and
in arts education supports educational initiatives
by arts groups working in collaboration with school
and undergraduate educational institutions.The
Trust disbursed Rs 5.40 million (US $ 0.12 million)
in 2005-06 to support initiatives in this theme.
|
| |
|
| |
Civil
society and governance
Grants under this theme
are divided into the following four sub-thematic
areas
- Encouraging youth action
for development through 'Youth and Civil Society
initiative'
- Professionalising the
non-profit sector through fellowships
- Building vibrant non-profits
through human resource and organisation development
initiative
- Strengthening governance
particularly through citizen engagement with
public systems.The Trust disbursed Rs 39.57
million (US $ 0.88 million) towards 15 grants
in 2005-06 in this sphere.
|
| |
|
| B. |
Endowment grants
In order to sustain
mission-driven institutions that are instruments
for positive change, the Trust has developed and
used endowments as a tool. Since 1997 the Trust
has formulated a formal endowment strategy with
well set norms and clearly defined criteria that
enable it to identify and appraise deserving institutions.
There is no formal procedure
for application, but organisations with the following
strengths are considered for endowments:
- The activities of the
organisation should be closely integrated with
the thematic areas of the Trust, and should
have a satisfactory and mutually rewarding programme
partnership with the Trust
- The organisation should
have an impact on society or be strategic in
a sector of the field
- The organisation should
demonstrate staying power
- The organisation should
have an established tradition of collective
leadership
- The organisation should
have a proven track record of being mission
driven.The Trust disbursed Rs 25 million (US
$ 0.56 million) as endowment grants during 2005-06
|
| |
|
| C. |
Small grant programme
Launched in 1998-99,
this caters to the needs of small, welfare-oriented
organisations, and those needing support to implement
innovative ideas. Small organisations, with a
life span of at least a year, expenditure not
exceeding Rs 2 million in the last financial year,
and employing not more than 20 people, are eligible
for these grants. Grant limits are currently limited
to Rs 0.5 million per year per grant.
Larger organisations can
also apply for strategic planning and/or exercises;
focused research activities; mainstreaming of
innovations; setting up or strengthening of internal
systems; project planning and appraisal.
During 2005-06, the Trust
disbursed Rs 33.49 million (US$ 0.74 million)
under this programme.
|
| |
|
| Individual
grants |
| medical
grants |
educational
grants |
| The Trust
also awards grants to individuals, largely for medical
and educational purposes. |
| A. |
Medical grants
Grants are disbursed
to patients requiring help to meet treatment expenses.
The financial aid given is in part, depending
on the merit of the case. Over the years, the
Trust has built links with specific departments
of reputed hospitals to obtain recommendations
for patients deserving financial assistance, and
interacts with social workers at these hospitals
to ensure appropriate selection and speedy processing.
Currently, the Trust has linkages with 25 hospitals
across India.
|
| B. |
Educational grants
The Trust supports
individuals for higher education through:
|
| |
Studies in India
programme
Scholarships
for higher studies in India are awarded to outstanding
students, primarily for undergraduate / post-graduate
professional courses in fine arts and literature,
architecture, law, the social sciences, pharmacology,
and education. Though the award of the Trust is
on merit, the amount varies according to the family's
socio-economic standing. The programme begins
in September each year. The strength of this programme
is in its linkages with institutes, including
colleges of repute in the country, especially
in the fields of engineering, management and medicine.
|
| |
Travel
grants
Travel grants are
provided to students proceeding for post-graduate
and doctoral studies and for professionals proceeding
for their mid-career programmes or to attend relevant
and meaningful seminars and conferences abroad.
|
| |
|
Contact
The secretary
Sir Ratan Tata Trust
Bombay House
24, Homi Mody Street
Bombay 400 001
India
Phone: +91 (22) 6665 8282
Fax: +91 (22) 6665 8013
Email: srtt@tata.com
Website: www.srtt.org
Please note: applications for individual grants
should be sent only through post.
|
