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Round Table India
Round Table is a non-political, non-profit and non-sectarian organization offering young men, successful businessmen and professionals between the ages of 18 and 40 an opportunity to serve their communities by encouraging high ethical standards in commercial life. It is a platform that allows young men, in different vocations, to make new acquaintances and, thereby, develop a fuller understanding of the ways to better serve those in need. It also encourages individual interest in everything that influences public welfare.

‘Round Table’ or the ‘Table’ is the core unit in the movement where the individual member of each Table decides how they will extend a helping hand to serve their community. The motive behind every action taken by the Table depends on the issues and challenges at hand as presented by the community. These include a wide range of services such as providing civic conveniences, job-related training, conducting blood donation camps and other health camps. It also helps provide other services such as corrective surgery, education support for underprivileged children in educational institutions and homes, building shelters for the needy and assisting to revive normal life conditions after natural calamities or tragedies like floods, etc. At present, the key objective of the community service at Round Table India focuses on building infrastructure for education of underprivileged children.

The Table alone regulates the scope and limit of the activities conducted. There is no specific pattern that limits this scope.

At Round Table India or RTI, ‘Tablers’ believe that the privileges of life are accompanied by equal obligations and thus it stresses on the exerting efforts and service in return. The community service performed by Round Tables not only benefit those who are helped but also the members who are keen to give something back to the communities against the privileges they enjoy in their life, one of them being their membership of Round Table. The act of serving also brings young men together, giving them new opportunities for personal growth and building new connections professionally.

History
Founded in Norwich, England by Louis Marchesi, the Round Table was initially an international friendship organisation and finally became a Rotarian in 1927. The movement has seen massive growth and participation since then. From a group of 8 members, today it has about 43,000 members spreading across 52 countries, ready to drive a change in any corner of the world. Round Table made its way to India in the year 1957 with the first Round Table - Madras Round Table No 1 - forming on November 14, 1962. It was formed by John Barton along with 100 members. Now, after four decades, it has grown to become a well-established association of 2850 members.

From its inception, Round Table has been a non-political, non-religious, and non-sectarian organisation giving each member the opportunity of connecting with each other, having their share of fun together fun whilst always being ready to be of service to their community.

The young businessmen of Round Table India get together to adopt methods that proved good in the past, modify them and improving them according to the changing times. They truly believe in the speech of Prince of Wales which includes the phrase ‘Adopt, Adapt and Improve’. This phrase is an important facet of the organisation.

Round Table India has around 200 Tables located in 76 cities and towns. It comprises of businessmen, entrepreneurs, technocrats and professionals. These men are under oath to move beyond their personal concerns and duties to realize and serve the crucial needs of the community.

As far as administration front is considered, Round Table India has a very active National Board, which conducts the affairs of the association. It is divided into 11 Areas, each area having their own Area Board to supervise them. The National Secretariat of Round Table India is located at Chennai.

Round Table India foundation is a trust that came into existence in April 1980. Currently, RTIF is extending support to projects taken up by the RTI national projects and Ladies Circle India.

Approach
Our approach is determined by our following objectives:


 * To develop the fellowship of young men through the medium of their business and professional occupations and community service activities.
 * To encourage active and responsible citizenship by cultivating the highest ideals in business, professional and civic traditions.
 * To promote and further international understanding friendship and cooperation.
 * To promote the extension of the association.

Funders

 * 1) P&G Shiksha
 * 2) Coca -Cola
 * 3) Cognizant Foundation
 * 4) Round Table Foundation
 * 5) Nyenrode New Business School

Programs

 * Freedom Through Education(FTE): Illiteracy has been a curse on humanity for long that perpetuates the chain of poverty, degradation and child labor. Since 1996, RTI started taking up projects to reach out to this group of underprivileged children across the country. These projects focused on quality school infrastructure. It was in the year 1998 that this project was formalized and thus was born the National Project of Round Table India “Freedom Through Education ” – In pursuit of educating underprivileged children. Under this FTE program, the Tablers are involved in identifying schools for underprivileged that are currently operating from dilapidated or open structures and are in need of better facilities. This includes the schools that have land provision but negligible resources to bigger expenditures like construction. RTI steps in at this point and builds School Blocks with amenities across India. Through this program, Round Table India facilitates the construction of quality School Buildings that also fulfil the bare necessities such as Toilets, Lights & Fans, Classroom Furniture, Science Laboratories, Deep Tube-wells, Filtered Drinking Water System, Library Rooms and Computer Rooms. Over the last three years, RTI has impacted the lives of 23000+ children. It is believed that the partnership between Round Table India and P&G is set to change the lives of many in the future.


 * Suryajyoti (SOLAR): Round Table India’s Project Suryajyoti initiative focuses on bringing Solar energy to schools all over India and light up villages that are disconnected from the power grid. With this initiative, as an organization of young, capable and dynamic young men, RTI is a leading non-profit organization working on today’s major issues like energizing rural India, need for clean energy, elimination of energy deprivation of rural schools, national energy sufficiency and global warming. RTI also signed a MoU with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) that recognizes it as the Indian Government’s recognized partner in various initiatives related to MNRE . Through this move, RTI has received the necessary recognition and governmental support to tak energy to the much needed areas.


 * Operation Thirst: Operation Thirst in 1993 was the first Community Development Project that provided a drinking water source to the village people by drilling over 500 bore wells at a cost of over Rs.10 Million.


 * Awareness of Aids: RTI promoted Awareness of Aids being the killer disease in the year 1994.


 * Project Smile: A dental hygiene program around 1995, Project Smile offered dental care to almost 300,000 rural children during several dental camps.
 * Right To Learn: In 1996, "Right To Learn " the National Project to provide school infrastructure turned out to be very successful. More than 140 school buildings were constructed at a cost of over Rs.70 Million that benefited 200,000 rural children across the country.


 * Project Touch: Round Table India launched "PROJECT TOUCH " In 1997. Around 2000 orphan children were adopted under this project in association with SOS Children's Village India at a cost of Rs.1.5 Million.


 * PROJECT JEEVAN is a project that promoted the message that blood donation makes a big difference in someone's life.
 * Round Table India also contributed to 2 KW Solar Power installation in Visakhapatnam.

Achievements, Awards & Recognition

 * Has successfully build 2371+ Schools and 5736+ Classrooms since 1997 under the FTE program.
 * First Organization to rebuild 20 Schools in Kutch & Surendranagar (Bhuj) within the period of 4 months. Received a contribution of Rs.80 Lacs on a total outlay of Rs.2.4 Crores from the Azim Premji Foundation
 * Round Table India has been the only NGO entrusted by Tamil Nadu Government to work in Tsunami- affected areas for the rebuilding of schools. Around 126 Schools have been built at a cost of 25 Crores. These schools were commemorated in presence of His Excellency Governor Surjit Singh Barnala.
 * 4 Schools have been constructed at a cost of Rs. 2 Million directly by the Tables in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for Orissa Cyclone Relief in 1999-2000.  Post this, another 6 schools have been built.
 * The Governments of AP, Karnataka, and TN recognised the credibility of the organization and committed financial support of up to 80% for any School development project taken-up.
 * 75 schools have been built in Andhra Pradesh under Project Janmabhoomi.
 * Under Project Pathshala, 150 schools have been constructed with the support of Govt of Karnataka.
 * Organised a Dutch World Tour for Children which included a Group of 45 Dutch Nationals who traveled across the country. Received a contribution of  Euro 90,000 that were utilized to construct 18 Schools, leading to a total spending of Euro 300,000.
 * RTI is also responsible for building 55 Classrooms & 22 Toilet Blocks that got inaugurated in Chennai at hands of Past President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
 * In matching partnership with Round Table Netherlands and doubling by International Aid Agencies like CORDAID & NOVIB, 100 schools have been built at a cost of Rs.60 Million.
 * 22 Schools have been constructed in partnership with MV Foundation in Nalagonda and Ranga Reddy backward districts.
 * Freedom Through Education’ has twice been awarded the prestigious ‘Best National Project ’ of World Council of Service Clubs (WOCO) which is an umbrella organization of Community Service Associations across 80 Countries.
 * RTI also received a contribution of Euros 150K from the New Business School, Amsterdam to build 15 Schools in Maharashtra, Chattisgarh & Gujarat
 * Got selected as Primary Partner for P&G Shiksha Program. After this, P&G has contributed Rs.9 Crores within 2 years.
 * Chosen by Infinity Foundation for their CSR Program.