CIF wants public policy center in India

The Canada-India Foundation wants to establish a public policy center in India along the lines of the one it established last year at the University of Waterloo. Two million dollars of the $10 million endowment came from Vasdev Chanchlani, co-founder, Sigma System, Toronto. 

"One of the key achievements of CIF is the $10 million endowment fund for a public policy center, focused on adding intellectual bandwidth to our public policy development for the Canada-India corridor," Chanchlani said. "This initiative speaks volumes of our commitment to building serious academic and intellectual bridges between Canada and India, which are key to building successful political, cultural and economic ties between the two countries… We (CIF members) can sense a distinct sense of urgency among them (Canadian policy makers) to engage with India."

This year, for the first time since its inception in 2007, the CIF will hold its annual gala outside Toronto. At the May 15 event in Vancouver, the $ 225,000 CIF Chanchlani Global India Award will be presented to Indian businessman Ratan Tata.

The award was conferred on Sam Pitroda in 2008 and clean energy entrepreneur Tulsi Tanti in 2009. "With a person of Tata's stature accepting the award, it is now looked at as one of the most prestigious awards," Chanchlani added. "The award creates unprecedented visibility for India and its achievements… This year, through our award, we are contributing to the victims of the (November 26, 2008) terror attacks in Mumbai."