The Gulf chapter of the India Development Foundation for Overseas Indians (IDF-OI), working under the aegis of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), will soon begin work in the region, which is home to more than 3mn Indian expatriates and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs).Doha-based entrepreneur and Indian civil award recipient, C K Menon, said yesterday that the decision to start the regional chapter was made at a meeting of the board of directors of the IDF-OI held in New Delhi on Friday. IDF-OI chapters are already active in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia.Along with the Gulf chapter, the New Zealand and Germany chapters will also start work shortly. The meeting, chaired by Indian federal Minister for Overseas Indians Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, highlighted the necessity for Indian philanthropic organisations and individuals to make sure that benefits go to the needy and deserving sections in the community.It was pointed out at the meeting that the absence of a credible single window that could lead philanthropic capital into need based social sectors has resulted in the mushrooming of “less than credible” private institutions and “causes’’ with absolutely poor accountability seeking diaspora philanthropy. Such a situation could erode the confidence of the overseas Indians in engaging proactively in philanthropy in their home land, said Menon quoting minister Ravi.The participants at the meeting rued the bureaucratic red-tape that affected philanthropic activities and institutions in India. Menon said: “We also explained the difficulties in fulfilling the cumbersome regulatory requirements while providing support to humanitarian activities. Many people, especially those in the middle income groups, are discouraged by red tape.”The foundation, he said, had been constituted to enable organisations and individuals of the Indian disapora to contribute to the cause of education, health and rural development in their native towns or villages. It also partners with well known NGOs and philanthropic forums actively engaged in social development, thus providing a strong public-private partnership bridge between the philanthropists and their target beneficiaries.The immediate priority areas of the IDF-OI are healthcare, education, empowerment of women and sustainable livelihood with special focus on water and energy.One of the major advantages that an NRI or OCI could avail of on joining the IDF-OI, is that they would not have to file papers under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) under Section 31 of the Indian Taxes Act.Menon and Emke Group managing director Yousuffali M A are the two NRIs from the Gulf region who are on the board of directors of the IDF-OI. Both were present at the Friday meeting.