Melinda Gates meets Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, today called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and apprised him about various activities of her organisation.

During the 20-minute meeting, Gates briefed the Home Minister about the ongoing projects of the Foundation in sectors like health, agriculture and rural development.

She also told the Home Minister about fresh projects to be initiated by the Foundation in some backward areas covering sectors like education and child and women welfare, official sources said.

The Home Minister appreciated the works of the Foundation in India and assured Gates of all necessary help.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is not registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) which is required for foreign organisations to undertake charitable works in India.

The Foundation, however, operates as a 'Liaison Office' under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) as approved by the Reserve Bank of India.

There have been questions on the Foundation's style of functioning after some reports accused it of favouring some multinational companies.