The Milana Foundation

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What issue will your venture address? Why is it an important issue?

This venture addresses healthcare in rural India. People there often have no accessible health care, resulting in countless people suffering immensely. I’ve known of young people dying from things as simple as stomach pain while attempting to reach medical care. Bill Gates said, “Global health money improves lives more effectively than any other spending,” and we agree that addressing this issue will most drastically improve people’s conditions. More than a hundred out of every thousand children die before the age of five in rural India, and such shocking statistics and conditions make this issue an imperative one to address.

Why are YOU pursuing this specific issue? Tell us why you're passionate and qualified!

I was in India for one month during the summer of 2009, and I visited a group of villages in rural Andhra Pradesh. I saw the conditions people lived in and I spoke with many villagers. Their stories mainly revolved around their lack of access to medical care, and I decided I should do something to help them. I created plans for a clinic, sought and received funding for it, began construction, and incorporated as an NGO in the one month I was there. I hope my actions show the passion I feel for improving the plight of these people.

How will your venture address this issue? Help us understand what you do and how it helps.

I began construction of a clinic in the Medak district of Andhra Pradesh with funding and a free land lease from Mayuri Farms, a local agricultural company that employs villagers in the area. The idea I used was that investments into healthcare would economically benefit the company with improved worker productivity and less sick days. My venture will efficiently operate this clinic, gather data on improvements that free healthcare brings, and use that information to build further local corporate partnerships. I want to create a model of how effective healthcare can be supported sustainably using community resources.