US Ambassador David C Mulford and the US Educational Foundation in India has announced a substantial increase in funding for Fulbright exchanges from the US Department of State for this fiscal year.
The $ 710,000 (Rs 3.25 crore) increase in funding translates into a substantial boost in scholarly exchange. This year, USEFI will be sending 81 Indian Fulbright scholars to the US, an increase of 19 scholars over last year. USEFI will also fund additional US scholars to visit India.
Speaking at USEFI, Ambassador Mulford observed the increase is due to the growth in the relationship between the US and India and recognition that exchanges in higher education have contributed greatly to both countries.
A total of 83 US scholars will be visiting India on Fulbright grants in the financial year 2004. In addition, 10 Fulbright Senior Specialists and 16 US teachers under the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Programme will also be visiting India this year.
The appropriation from the US Congress has been $ 1.35 million per year since 2001. This year, the base appropriation was increased by $ 250,000 to $ 1.6 million and an additional one-time fund of $ 460,000 was allocated to USEFI.
The US Educational Foundation, governed by a board of directors composed of five Indians appointed by the ministry of human resource development and five US citizens residing in India, receives an annual appropriation from the US Congress and a rebate of taxes from India.
