The soulful evening was organized to support Global Vikas Trust’s Mission of Transforming Farmers’ Lives
Our Bureau
New York, NY
The Project India Initiative by the Association of Indians in America (AIA) NY Chapter, hosted a spectacular musical evening headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist Falu and her band — all in support of a vital cause.
The evening began with heartfelt opening remarks by Asmita Bhatia, who shared the inspiring work of Project India and their growing collaboration with Global Vikas Trust (GVT), an NGO based in India. A moving video followed, featuring testimonials from farmers whose lives have been uplifted by the GVT initiative — planting fruit trees to ensure sustainable income for farming families. These firsthand stories offered a compelling glimpse into how community-driven efforts can combat poverty and restore dignity.
Project India, the philanthropic arm of AIA, has long stepped up to support communities in times of crisis. Over the last 15 years, its partnership with GAP, an Ahmedabad-based NGO, has brought life-changing healthcare to 80 tribal villages along the Gujarat–Rajasthan border.
In 2024, Project India was deeply inspired by the vision of Global Vikas Trust (GVT) and its founder, Mayank Gandhi. Guided by this vision, Project India’s support helped plant 134,000 fruit trees, transforming the livelihoods of 166 farmers and their families — reducing suicide rates, restoring hope, and laying a path for long-term sustainability.
Dr. Manjula Bansal introduced Falu and her talented ensemble, who took the stage and captivated the audience with a transcendent performance that spanned genres, languages, and generations. A special guest appearance by rapper Marty brought an unexpected and delightful energy, culminating in an unforgettable, joy-filled celebration that had everyone dancing.
After the performance, Divya Shah and Smita Khanna extended their gratitude to donors, patrons, supporters, and the media partners who helped amplify the message and mission behind the event. Among those media partners were ITV Gold, Desi Talk, Radio Zindagi, The India Eye, South Asia Times, and India Panorama — all of whom generously provided promotional support.
Sunny Thakkar of Sneh Arts, who managed and marketed the event, shared his appreciation:
“Seeing so many smiling faces and so much support for such a worthy cause was the biggest reward. We’re proud to be part of this journey.”
Join us in sustaining this momentum. Together, we can empower farmers, restore the environment, and create lasting change. We encourage you to visit the Global Vikas Trust (GVT) website to witness the incredible transformation underway across rural India — and invite you to be a part of it. Through Project India’s continued support of GVT, we can deepen our collective impact and create meaningful, lasting opportunities for thousands of families. For more information visit globalvikastrust.org.
