cross-posting to foundation-l & internal-l from India Community list; apologies if you've read this already.
hisham Begin forwarded message: > From: Hisham <hmun...@wikimedia.org> > Subject: Wikimedia India Program Trust > Date: November 11, 2011 9:55:00 AM GMT+05:30 > To: Wikimedia India Community list <wikimediaindi...@lists.wikimedia.org> > > Hi Folks, > I'm writing to share an update with you on certain developments of relevance > to the Wikimedia movement in India. > > Announcement of Wikimedia India Program Trust > For some time, efforts have gone into creating an organization that would > provide an appropriate structure to support Wikimedia program activities in > India. Aspects such as the current regulatory framework (regarding funding, > taxation, etc.) as well as the legal protection for the India team have been > considered to determine this structure. In this context, a host of options > (e.g. subsidiary, branch, Section 25) were evaluated and a determination was > made towards an independent non-profit public trust. Legal advice has been > taken at every stage in this decision. > > A new entity, the “Wikimedia India Program Trust”, has now been formed and > registered (in Delhi.) This will be the organization that will eventually > drive India programs and house the team in India. > > Why an Independent Public Trust? > The Trust will provide an effective vehicle within India to marshal resources > to support programs and partner with local institutions. The objective of the > Trust is to promote the objectives of the Wikimedia movement and work closely > with the Wikimedia community on various projects with an India focus. It is > important to understand that the Trust will not have any editorial control > over content on any of the Wikimedia projects. The Trust is a not for profit > organization. > > Introduction of Trustees > Trustees have been identified based upon their support for Wikimedia > movement's principles and plans in addition to having reputations for good > governance and management. > > Sunil Abraham and Rahul Matthan have been requested to be the initial > Trustees. Both are friends of Wikipedia and have extensive experience. > > Sunil is Executive Director of the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS), is a > long term advocate of free software and IP reform and has been supporting the > Wikimedia community and movement for some time now. > > Rahul is a partner and heads the technology practice at Trilegal. He brings > deep expertise and relationships that will be valuable for the Trust. > > These initial Trustees will serve for a term of three years at the maximum. > All additional or subsequent Trustees will serve on rotation in accordance > with a trustee selection plan that will be prepared. > > Trustees will not be compensated for their services. > > Governance, Funding, Financial Standards & Communications of the Trust > The Trust will be governed by Trustees who will provide oversight and > guidance regarding the operations and governance of the Trust. > > Since the Trust is an independent organization, it will require funding for > its operations which is in compliance with the legal and regulatory framework > in India. It will seek funding from private donors within India as well as > external sources. > > The Trust has the support of the Wikimedia Foundation which is a United > States based non-profit foundation. However, in India all non-profit > organizations need to be in existence for 3 years before they can receive > funding from sources outside India. In the interim, they can apply for > prior-permission under the FCRA regulations to help expedite the process. As > a result, the Trust will shortly be applying for approval to receive funds > from the Wikimedia Foundation in the future. > > As a Trust, we are required to have an independent external auditor. We have > appointed KPMG. KPMG is experienced in auditing non-profit companies and are > also auditors for the Wikimedia Foundation. > > Annually, the Trust will publicly disclose it's independently audited > financial statements. > > The Trust will publish a monthly newsletter outlining its current activities > and future plans. This will commence in December 2011. > > Operations of the Trust > The trust deed under which the Trust must operate clearly states that the > purpose of the Trust is to independently promote the growth of volunteer > activities within India in support of effective and unrestricted > dissemination of free knowledge to the public. > > I will serve as the Executive Director of the Trust. Once it is possible, > additional employees will be brought on to the Trust > > The Trust will eventually have an office in Delhi. > > In the interim, I have personally secured temporary office space to > facilitate establishing the Trust and its mission. It is located at Top > Floor, G-15, Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110 016. It's a couple of minutes walk > away from IIT Flyover and Hauz Khas Metro. Do drop in! It's a small but cozy > place and we'd love to have you over! > > Conclusion > We continue to make progress in setting up program activities to support the > growth of Wikimedia in India. We have a long way to go, but are glad that we > are starting to build a solid foundation. > > The following link is for FAQs on this (and related) topics: > http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FAQ_India_Programs/FAQ_Wikimedia_India_Program_Trust > > As always, do reach out if you have any comments or questions. > > Warm Regards, > > hisham > _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
