 The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) was established in 2002 to commemorate and take forward the vision of Rajiv Gandhi – India’s former Prime Minister – for the country. The Trust, a registered, non-profit institution, was set up by his wife Mrs Sonia Gandhi and their children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, to address areas of concern that were closest to Rajiv Gandhi’s heart. It aims to translate Rajiv Gandhi’s vision into action by implementing development programmes that have sustainable impact on these areas of concern. The Trust works in close collaboration with
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, a sister organisation and a think tank whose operations are aimed at influencing public policy, improving governance – local, national and international -- and providing enlarged opportunities to the underprivileged and the deprived. RGCT also has close links with the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust (SGMT), a not for profit organisation which operates several development initiatives in Uttar Pradesh.
RGCT currently works in the poorest areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP), one of the least developed states in India. UP has the highest number of people below the poverty line -- an estimated 44 percent of its 175 million population. The state alone accounts for 20 percent of the poor in India, and an estimated 9 percent of the poor worldwide. Key areas of intervention for the Trust are:
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