Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates met Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath this week to discuss investment and various welfare initiatives of his foundation.
The Microsoft co-founder discussed investments with Yogi Adityanath on Nov. 17, and the foundation may declare initiatives for the northern state. Gates was also accompanied by his wife Melinda, who is also a philanthropist.
“A delegation led by Mr Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corp & Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called upon #UPCM Shri #YogiAdiyanath at Shastri Bhavan, Lucknow,” the CM’s office tweeted. “On behalf of the Government and people of Uttar Pradesh, I welcome Mr. Bill Gates and his team to Lucknow: #UPCM shri #YogiAdityanath,” the office said in another tweet, quoting the UP chief minister.
Yogi Adityanath also said, “It is needed a matter of great joy and pleasure for us that you have been able to take time out of your busy schedule to be here with us: #UPCM shri #YogiAdityanath” in another tweet.
On Nov. 16, Home Minister Rajnath Singh was reported to have urged Gates to adopt villages hit by left-wing extremism in Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand, and turn them into “model villages.”
Gates also discussed the initiatives taken by his American foundation in India. The discussion comes in the wake of cancellation of license of Public Health Foundation of India, a health advocacy group that was funded by the Gates Foundation. The cancellation of the license of the NGO was not discussed, a spokesperson of the foundation said.
आज शास्त्री भवन, लखनऊ में बिल एण्ड मिलिण्डा गेट्स फाउण्डेशन संस्था के सह अध्यक्ष श्री बिल गेट्स ने मुलाकात की, तथा उन्हें भगवान बुद्ध की प्रतिमा भेंट की। pic.twitter.com/tNphK9CBqR
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 17, 2017
Singh commended Gates for the various initiatives the foundation has taken in the country, and requested them him to initiate programs to spread health awareness.
“In collaboration with our partners, we are working to improve the lives of more than a billion people in India by addressing challenges related to health, sanitation, access to financial services, and agricultural development,” the Foundation says on its India website.