In October 1996, a group of Indian scholars in Cambridge established Sakhya:
Cambridge Friends of India, a University society, with the aim of benefiting disadvantaged
social groups and individuals in India through the grant of funds raised here in the UK.
This society was created and is run by Indian students and post docs in Cambridge.
Modern India is a vibrant democracy and a state that is striving hard to be equal and
just to all its citizens. We, Sakhya, wish to contribute in this process by generating
funds through India-centric events to fund organisations in India which strive towards
sustainable development.
Sakhya invites project proposals from various voluntary organisations operating in
India. The proposals received are evaluated on a novel basis in tune with the organisation's
policies. In choosing our beneficiaries
we desire to support programmes that aim at sustainable growth and foster the participation
of the target communities themselves.
We do not believe in pity, we believe in creating opportunities.
Projects supported by us are constantly monitored both by personal visits of our
volunteers and seeking annual progress reports from the beneficiaries.
Our main objectives are :
- To support viable developmental programmes aimed at sustainable growth over a long term period, without making them welfare-dependent.
- To initiate and foster participation from the people themselves who are intended to be the beneficiaries of the project.
- To encourage targeted development of specific communities/localities in rural areas to help prevent overcrowding in urban areas and achieve balanced and decentralised growth.
- To serve economically and socially disadvantaged people irrespective of caste, sect, locality/province and religion.
- To co-ordinate our efforts only with non-sectarian groups with no religious or political affiliation.
- To help projects manage themselves as far as possible with minimum overhead costs and outside help from intermediaries.
- To work at the grass-root level, taking into account local conditions and co-ordinating carefully our aims with their needs.
- To foster awareness of the diversity, rich heritage and developmental needs of modern India both amongst our members and amongst the international community in Cambridge.