July 1, 2009
Delhi Travel Directory For NRIs By NRIs
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Delhi Travel Directory

Whether you are traveling to India for pleasure, business, study or medical care, the best way to ensure a successful and hassle free trip is to be thoroughly prepared for the trip.

Delhi Travel Directory covers important information for planning your trip to Delhi and practical personal, business and government contact numbers and information you will need while in Delhi.

It is a resource created by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) for NRIs to make their endeavors in Delhi successful especially when they visit Delhi for personal or business purposes.

The directory covers diverse information starting from planning your trip including checking travel advisories to India, looking up Delhi maps, finding tour packages and everything else you need to make airline, car and hotel/guest-house reservations for your trip. You can find contact numbers for medical tourism, Yoga retreats, Ayurvedic centers or getting an executive health check up while in Delhi.

If you are planning a business trip, you may want to look up numbers for business centers, local chambers of commerce or professional service providers like accountants, lawyers and more. The entrepreneurs and SMEs can find startup incubators, funding institutions or professional events to attend while in Delhi.

You can navigate the directory item by item using the menu on the left side of this page. A single page version of the directory is also available to view here.



Plan Your Trip

The best way to ensure a successful and hassle free travel is to effectively plan for it. This section addresses all practical aspects of planning your travel to New Delhi, India. It is targeted at US businesses in general and NRIs in USA in particular. Essential resources and useful contact numbers are provided for:




About Delhi

New Delhi, the capital of India, has a lot to offer its visitors like rich history, vibrant culture, trends, beliefs, lifestyle and, most importantly, exciting politics.

 

The following resources will help you to get familiar with India, Delhi and its people:

 

India Tourism Offices, Indian Ministry of Tourism

The tourism office will help you in preparing your itinerary, and provide maps of Delhi regions and for other cities in India, places to visit and other travel related information.

USA

New Delhi 

For India Tourism offices in other countries and other cites of India, visit www.incredibleindia.org.

 

Delhi Tourism Offices, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Corporation Ltd. (DTTDC)

DTTDC has its offices in Delhi and provides services like cars and coaches for hire, instant hotel reservations, adventure activities, foreign exchange facility, and international & domestic air ticketing. The following are contact numbers for various DTTDC offices around Delhi.

 

Information Portals

 

Guides and Directory Assistance

Guides and directories are the best resource when you are looking for restaurants, events, art galleries, theatres, museums and more.

Print media: All of the magazines listed below can be bought at book shops, book stalls and street hawkers in most of the markets in Delhi.

Online Guides

Directories: You can call the numbers below for the directory assistance while in Delhi

Following are the links that provide the directory listings online: 

 

State-Specific Tourism Offices in Delhi

Most of the State Governments of India have setup information centers in Delhi that you can contact for the state-specific tourist information. The following are tourism offices for the northern states of India and are mostly of interest to Delhi region travelers.

For the complete list of state tourism offices in Delhi, please visit www.delhispecial.entryindia.com under Travel, Tourism and Accommodation category.

 

Recommended books on Delhi

 

Things to Do in Delhi

For things to do while in Delhi, visit India Govt. portal http://incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=1122




Travel Advisory

The most critical element of your travel is your safety. Safety starts from knowing if you should be traveling, who you should contact for safety related issues, and who your family should contact in case of emergency.

Following listings provide critical information for traveling to India:

Choose the country India under International travel. The site provides travel warning and alerts on India, entry/exit requirements, information on medical facilities and travel insurance, information on laws in India.

The site provides information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect-bite protection. You can reach CDC at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747)

The site provides information on disease outbreaks in India and lists reports & guides on health risks and safe food for international travelers.

The site provides list of the places in India where visiting is restricted unless a permit is granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. For permits, contact:

Foreigners' Division, Ministry of Home Affairs +91-11-2309-2011 / 2161

 

Other Resources:

Click here for Do's and Dont's in Delhi by Delhi Tourism.




Visa, Immigration & Customs

Information Sites

The following listings provide you with information on Indian customs & immigration rules for tourists, students and workers coming to India.

 

Indian Embassy and Consulates

NOTE: NRIs with foreign citizenships don’t need visa if they have OCI or PIO card. To apply for OCI and PIO card, contact the Indian consulate or embassies.

Read more on OCI and PIO card at http://mha.gov.in, by Ministry of Home Affairs. In Delhi, you can file for your OCI card at:




Trip Registration

US Citizens

This is how your family can contact you in case of emergency or if there is a crisis where you are traveling.

 

Foreign Nationals

Register your travel in Delhi at Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in special cases. http://immigrationindia.nic.in/registration_requirements.htm




Travel and Immigration Experts

Entry India’s selected travel and immigration experts, based in India, are experienced professionals who will assist you with your travel plans, prepare your itinerary and provide consulting on your travel needs while in India.

 

Travel Experts

 

Indian Immigration Consultant

For any Indian immigration related work including but not limited to work visa to India, visa extension, etc.




Ticket Reservation

The following are the resources located in the US and India where you can buy your tickets to Delhi and plan your tour within India.

Portals Travel Agents/Tour Operators

Find your own local travel agents Travel Agents qualified by Entry Indiabased on recommendations from NRIs Buying Directly from Airlines
AIRLINE NAMEUS Toll freeINDIA (dial +91-11 as prefix)
AIR FRANCE1-800-237-27472346-6262, 23466213; Airport - 2565-2008
AIR INDIA1-800-223-7776800227722, 23731225; Airport: 2565-2021
ALITALIA1-800-223-57302565-2475; Airport: 2565-2634
AMERICAN Airlines1-800-433-73002341-6927
AUSTRIAN1-800-843-00022335-0113, 4151-0073; Airport: 25654222
BRITISH AIRWAYS1-800-227-45002232-0900; Airport: 2565-2078
CATHAY PACIFIC1-800-233-274223323332; Airport: 2565-4702/3
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES1-800-523-32732334-3291; Airport: 2565-3057
LUFTHANSA1-800-645-38802373-4200; Airport: 2565-4000
NORTHWEST KLM1-800-225-25252335-7747, 2332-4686; Airport: 2565-2715
SINGAPORE AIRLINES1-800-742-33332335-6286/ 2332-6373; Airport: 2565-3072
SWISS1-877-359-79472341-5000 / 2929; Airport: 2565-2531 / 5
UNITED AIRLINES1-800-241-65222335-6081/84
VIRGIN ATLANTIC1-800-862-86214150-1300/02/03/04/05; Airport: 2565-2600

Click here to view the complete list of international airllines flying to Delhi, India.
AIRLINESINDIA TOLL FREEINDIA Non-TOLL FREE
JET AIRWAYS, jetairways.com1-800-22-5522
1-866-835-9538		+91-11-4164-1414/ 24/ 515;
Airport: +91-11-3984-1111
KINGFISHER, kingfisher.com1-800-233-3535+91-124-2844700
INDIAN, indianairlines.in1-800-180-1407
1-866-435-9422		1400, 1401, +91-11-2462-2220
SPICE JET, spicejet.com1-800-180-3333+91-98718-03333
JETLITE, jetlite.com1-800-22-3020+91-11-3030-2020
+91-11-2567-5879
GO AIR, goair.in1-800-22-2111+91-92232-22111
INDIGO, goindigo.in +91-99103-83838



Travel & Medical Insurance

The site provides benefits of getting insurance and a list of travel insurance companies.

 

The site provides several travel insurance plans from 18 leading companies. You can compare and select the insurance policy suitable to your needs and budget.

+1-401-773-9300, 1-800-487-4722, service@insuremytrip.com

 

IAMAT helps in trip planning and coordinating an international network of qualified doctors for travelers in need of emergency medical care during their trip. You can join IAMAT for free. At the site you can choose your destination and locate doctors & clinics there.

+1-716-754-4883




Telephone Codes & Making Phone Calls

In this section you will find telephone codes for Delhi & cities around it and how to dial local and international numbers when in Delhi. Note that dialing a telephone number depends upon whether you are dialing from a mobile phone or from a land line phone.
 
Telephone Codes
You can find the codes for all other cities of India in links below:
 
 
Dialing Telephone Numbers



Hotels and Guest Houses

HOTELS 

For a more comprehensive list of hotels, from 5 Star to Budget, in New Delhi, click here

 

GUEST HOUSES

You can download a comprehensive list of paying guest facilities approved under Delhi Government's PGRA scheme.

Entry India’s Recommended Guest Houses in Delhi NCR:




Delhi Airport

The following listings provide contact numbers for Delhi airport and for the facilities available to travelers in the arrival section of the Delhi airport (terminal 2).
 
Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), newdelhiairport.in:
 
Information Centers:
 
Delhi Tourism Desk by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) – Provides Delhi Maps, tours, taxi, etc.
India Tourism Desk by Government of India:
 
Phone Booth:
There are phone booths by Airtel from which you can make local and international calls. These calls are metered and the rates are fixed.
 
 
Cell Phone:
 
 
Airport Shuttle:
DIAL provides a complimentary free shuttle bus service for passengers, every 20 minutes between the domestic terminals and 30 minutes between domestic and international terminals of IGI airport.
 
 
EATS (Ex Service Men Airlink Transport Service):
Bus service from the IGI Airport to Inter-state Bus Terminal (ISBT - Kashmere Gate)
 
 
Other Resources:

Delhi International Airport (P) Limited, 'Udaan Bhawan',

Terminal 1B Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi - 110037

 
NOTE: For taxi and car rental see Transportation, for currency exchanges and ATM at the airport see Currency Exchange



Transportation

TAXI & CAR RENTALS

- At AIRPORT

- In DELHI NCR

 

RAILWAYS

Online Reservation: http://www.irctc.co.in/

Arrival and Departure

Enquiry

For major train links, click here


ROADWAYS

Traveling local in Delhi

For Interstate Bus Terminals (ISBT)

Interstate Bus Operators

 

METRO 

http://delhimetrorail.com. The site provides information on metro routes, fares, timings and much more. Metro is the most safe, cheap, comfortable and fastest way of transportation within Delhi.

 

AUTO-RICKSHAWS

These are also called three wheelers and are available in plentiful for traveling within Delhi. You must negotiate the rate before you hire an auto-rickshaw.

For complaints regarding service charges: +91-11-2331-9334/8840/7630




Currency Exchange, ATM & Credit Cards

India Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

One US dollar currently fetches about 48 INR.

Points to Know:

 

Exchange Rates:

For real-time exchange rates, visit http://delhispecial.entryindia.com/currency_exchange_rate.   

Here you can also compare the rates available from different banks such as SBI, HDFC, RBI, etc.

 

Currency Exchangers and ATM facilities:

   At the AIRPORT (arrival section)

   In DELHI NCR

 

Transferring Money While in Delhi:

The best way to transfer money to yourself while in Delhi is to open a Quick Remit account with SBI or with HDFC Bank. The account can be connected to your bank account in USA. Then you can send money from your bank account to yourself any where in India using Internet. It will reach you in three or four days.

Credit Card and ATM Transaction Fees:
The following two tables show transaction fees charged by banks when you use their credit cards and when you take cash out using their ATM cards in a foreign country.
Credit card foreign transaction fee (updated 6/8/2009)
IssuerIssuer feeMaster and Visa feeTotal fee
American Express2.7% n/a2.7%
Bank of America2%1%3%
Barclaycard/Juniper Between 1% and 2%1%Between 2% and 3%
Capital OnenoneNoneNone
Citi2%1%3%
Discover2%n/a2%
HSBC*2%1%3%
Chase2%1%3%
US Bancorp 2% 1% 3%
USAA (available only to members of the military and their immediate families) none 1%1%
Wells Fargo 2% 1%3%
Table 1 (Source: www.creditcards.com)
Foreign ATM transaction fees
IssuerForeign ATM cost   
Bank of AmericaNone at Global ATM Alliance ATMs/$5 plus 1 percent currency conversion fee at nonGlobal ATM Alliance ATMs   
CitiCitibank ATMs: $0 plus a 3 percent currency conversion fee/nonCitibank ATMs: $1.50 plus a 3 percent currency conversion fee  
HSBC1 percent for ATM withdrawal   
Chase$3 plus 3 percent currency conversion fee  
USAA$0 plus 1 percent currency conversion fee  
Wells Fargo$5 withdrawal fee  

Table 2 (Source: www.creditcards.com)

*HSBC's Premier World MasterCard has no foreign transaction fee.




Cell Phone

Having a cell phone in Delhi is helpful and is highly recommended. Cell phone service in India is mostly on pre-paid basis. There are thousands of locations where you can buy cell phone service. You can add minutes (recharge) from any cell phone service outlet. Other services like Internet, voicemail are available on demand. If your battery is running low you can find cell phone charging stations in many food outlets, malls, hotels etc. all throughout the Delhi area.
 
Points to Remember:
OR
 
Cell Phone Service

What Entry India Can do for You?
You can place your order with Entry India communications expert Sanjeev Oberoi 3 days in advance of your travel to Delhi. You will get a fully configured and activated cell phone at the Delhi Airport on your arrival.
For more information, you can reach Sanjeev over the phone at +91-98101-29494 or email soberoi@entryindia.com.  



Maps of Delhi




Essential Numbers

This section provides you with the contact numbers of absolute importance that you must keep handy during your trip to Delhi. Examples of critical numbers are as follows:



Emergency Contact Numbers

Following are the most critical numbers that everyone must know and keep them handy all the time in Delhi.



Helpline

Following are very essential numbers to acquire non-emergency assitance or report a non-threatning situation.



Foreign Embassies in India

The following is the list of a few of the Foreign Embassies and Consulates located in Delhi.
Visit http://india.gov.in/overseas/foreign_emb_india.php for a complete list of foreign embassies in Delhi and other cities of India



List of Banks

For comprehensive list of Government of India undertaking Banking, Financial and Insurance institutions/organizations, click here



Passport Office

Address: Hudco, Trikoo-3
Bhikaji Cama Place
RK Puram, New Delhi - 110066



Enquiries

For detailed list of important telephone numbers by Delhi Government, click here



Couriers and Post Offices

The following is a list of couriers and post offices that you can contact for mailing letters, post cards, gifts and souvenirs to your family and business associates abroad.

 

COURIERS

 

POST OFFICES




PAN Card

An overview of PAN Card is available at the Govt. Of India Income Tax Department.
 
On-line Application for New PAN Card can be obtained from this NSDL Site.
 



NRI Facilitation Numbers

Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC), Gurgaon/NCR: http://www.oifc.in
OIFC, a not for profit public private initiative of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Confederation of Indian Industry, is formed to facilitate and bridge the gap between overseas Indians and India.  Important contacts at OIFC are:

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), New Delhi: http://moia.gov.in
+91-11-2419-7900; info@moia.nic.in

State/City-specific NRI facilitation centers:




NRI Complaints and Grievances

Timings: Twice a week i.e. on Tuesday and Friday from 11:30 to 12:30. During this hour, the PGE can be met without any prior appointment. Queries and grievances can be addressed at indianemigration@nic.in

Resources:




NRIs Related Sites

The following links provide access to sites dedicated to NRIs:




Doing Business in India

This section is especially for the people traveling to Delhi on business purpose. It provides information and contact numbers with respect to the following:




Company Formation

This section provides you with important information, entities names and contact numbers necessary to form a company in India.



Business Centers

Business Centers: With plug-&-play kind of capability, the following business centers provide you with necessary infrastructure for the smooth operations of your business.




Incubators and Software technology Parks

Business Incubators: Business Incubators provide you with assistance necessary for your business to become established and profitable during its start-up phase.

Software Technology Parks (STP): Similar in purpose to a business incubator, STPs in India focuses on companies developing software. Companies registered under STP gets better tax incentives.

 

References:




Service Providers

 http://www.delhispecial.entryindia.com/travel_guide/critical/couriers_post_offices



Business Loans and Funding

This section outlines the contact information of institutions that provides capital to SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Entrepreneurs Angel Investors & Venture Capitalists Banks



Chambers of Commerce and Industry Associations

Chambers of Commerce: Industry Associations:

New Delhi Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad



Government Departments and Regulatory Bodies

Government Ministries & Departments:

Regulatory Bodies:




Investing in India

This section provides contact numbers for entities supporting NRI's investments in India. Investments could be in Indian stock market, projects, franchising, etc. Entities are service providers, financial institutions, Venture capitalists, private equity firms, government departments determining investment policies and more


Franchising

Find a Franchise:



Mutual Funds




Tenders

This site is the central source for government and public sector procurement / tenders / notifications issued by the central and state governments and other public bodies across India for goods, services and works.

 

It is India’s premier tender portal and the largest repository of domestic tenders.

 

This portal provides access to business opportunities like Tenders of Indian government bodies & international tenders

 

This site compiles all the Government public sector & press tenders information in an easily searchable online database.




Investment Facilitators




Medical Care in India

India provides a very cost effective medical treatment for all including NRIs with medical insurance in their resident countries and also for those without it.  But at the same time one must ensure that the medical expert or the facility they are visiting are reliable and have been referred by someone knowledgeable. Keeping this in mind, we are providing a list of medical experts and facilities referred by other NRIs.



List of Hospitals

Following is the complete list of hospitals in Delhi NCR:
For a complete list of Delhi hospitals, click here

Search for a hospital near your location in Delhi, click here



Medical Tourism

Consultants: Portals: Hospitals: Resources:



Pharmacies

The following pharmacies (chemists) are open 24 hours and provide free home delivery:

Click here for store locations in other cities across India



Important Contacts and Links




My Health Care

India is known for its contributions in yoga and meditation, which primarily refer to good physical and mental fitness.  This section enlists yoga and meditation centers, gymnasiums, contacts for experts in the area of psychology, nutrition and more that you can benefit from when in Delhi.


Executive Health Checkup

"Getting Screened" is one of the top four things you can do to sustain good health and longevity (Eating healthy, Exercise and positive thinking are the other three).

In the last few years, screening technology (looking for potential health problems before they occur) has advanced dramatically. Many diseases can be prevented or cured if they are found early enough. Getting a timely screening can add years as well as quality to your life.

So why do most people wait until obvious symptoms of a problem emerge or an emergency situation arises before they see a doctor ? One of the reasons among many behavioral and others may be the cost factor. The cost of individually-tailored wellness assessment of your current and future health can indeed be high. While most insurance plans allow basic tests such as blood pressure, cholesterol level etc., they do not cover advanced procedures such as High Definition CT Lung and Full Body Scan, Colon Cancer Screening etc.

Fortunately, there is a better solution. The same screening programs with equal quality are available at affordable costs in India. Not only can you get advanced screening and wellness assessment done at an affordable price but can also enjoy a relaxing holiday at a culturally vibrant and historically rich place.

See for instance this press release (http://www.prlog.org/10090406-medical-tourists-choosing-india-for-holiday-tours-and-general-health-checkup.html) from Fore Runners Healthcare (http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com)




Yoga and Meditation Centers

 

Yoga Teacher Certification

In the United States, teacher-training programs that meet certain standards are registered by the Yoga Alliance, a nationally recognized organization. There are two levels of Yoga Alliance certificates- 200 Hour and 500 Hour, referring to the length of the program. Trainees first complete a 200-Hour program, which most yoga studios require as the minimum training for their teachers. Some teachers then choose to continue their studies by undertaking a 500-Hour training.

Upon completion of a Yoga Alliance registered teacher-training program, teachers may use the acronym RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) after their name.

The Yoga Alliance website (http://www.yogaalliance.org/) spells out their standards for certification and can help you identify Registered Yoga Schools in your area.

Yoga-India Site (http://www.yoga-india.org/index.htm) provides training for students from all levels using both traditional and contemporary methods of Yoga. Their system is an integrative approach developed by founder, Barath Shetty, based on the Iyengar and Sivananda approach. This school is recognized by Yoga Alliance for teacher certification.

In addition to the schools and retreats listed above, there are of course many more Yoga schools in India. For instance http://www.yogapoint.com/info/yvduniv.htm provides comprehensive Yoga teacher training courses.

For more comprehensive list of Yoga Centers in Delhi, click here




Gymnasiums




Physical and Mental Experts

Nutritionists: Psychologists: Physiotherapists:



Study in India

Delhi hosts some of the best colleges and training centers in India providing a huge cost & quality differential benefit to NRIs.  From IT, animation to fashion, nursing, graphic designing, etc., there is tremendous variety of disciplines to choose from.


Important Contacts and Links

The Government of India has designated Educational Consultants of India Limited (Ed.CIL) as the Single Window agency to facilitate the admission of children of Indian Diaspora and foreign students. Ed. CIL provides foreign students a comprehensive package of services listed here. Note: All students staying in India, longer than 6 months are required to register with FRRO

Related Sites:



Schools and Colleges

Schools

(w/Boarding facilities): Click here for comprehensive list of boarding/residential schools in India

Click here for a complete list of schools (government, public and aided) in Delhi

Universities in Delhi/NCR: Specialty Colleges:

Engineering: Management: Click here for a complete list of top management colleges in Delhi

Medical: Law Fashion Designing: Click here for a list of colleges providing courses in fashion, art and design

RESOURCES:
  1. For a comprehensive list of Educational institutions (universities, colleges, schools and training centers) by Government of India, click here
  2. Click here to search an Engineering, Medical, Management and Other colleges in India



Philanthropy

The fund renders immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc. and to the victims of the major accidents and riots. Assistance from PMNRF is also rendered for medical treatment like heart surgeries, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment, etc.

http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/sereport/ser/stdy_cai.pdf

Established in 1996, SICP acts as an intermediary between donors and those who utilize resources; and between government and civil society. It works to achieve its objectives through research, documentation and dissemination of information; workshops and conferences; advocacy with government; and by acting as a resource centre.

CAP is a service organization established in 1986 to provide advice and assistance to philanthropic institutions. The Centre provides guidance, advice and assistance to a wide range of philanthropic institutions, including grant making foundations, voluntary agencies , advocacy groups and development agencies in areas of charity law, taxation, resource mobilization, human resource development and effective management.

CAF India helps philanthropic services and solutions to companies, individuals and employees to donate to charitable causes of their choice in an efficient and tax-effective manner. Building resources and the capacity of the not-for-profit sector in India is also core to our work in the country.

TERI has started a program that seeks to make technology based solutions for rural areas under the "adopt a village" concept. Its website details the kind of programs it offers - from supply of drinking water to sanitation to water harvesting - and also lists the cost involved in each project. It allows prospective donors to choose projects in their preferred geographical locations in the country and to be active partners in the project if they so desire.

United Way is an alliance of MNCs and social agents, works on a belief that in economic distress philanthropy finds new ways of giving. United Way opened its latest chapter in New Delhi as part of a huge expansion plan for 11 Indian cities that was started with the opening of a chapter in Bengaluru.

Headquartered in Chicago, AAPI serves as an umbrella organization for more than 130 member associations nationwide. AAPI Charitable Foundation (AAPI-CF) was started with the aim of AAPI-CF to open one free clinic in each state of India and the US. AAPI-CF's annual budget is $180,000. It is registered with the IRS Tax Exemption No. 86-0586053 as a non-profit organization. The foundation has initiated pilot program in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar for rural healthcare using innovative practices in preventive care measures and community preparedness.

According to the organization there are approximately 80,000 and more grant-making organizations in India. Trusts have been established for a wide range of purposes - education, health, feeding the poor, promotion of arts and culture and so on. In recent years several foundations have been established by groups of community leaders to serve a cause. Examples of such trusts are National Foundation for India (NFI), Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Helpage India, Diwaliben and Mohanlal Mehta Charitable Trust. These foundations have their own resources and are involved in extensive grant making. There are also community foundations like the Bombay Public Trust and the government sponsored foundations like the Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).

Loomba Trust started in 1997 as a charitable institution in Britain with the aim to provide education and support for children of poor widows. It supports the education of 3,610 children, including 500 orphaned children of tsunami victims in Tamil Nadu, and has extended its activities to Bangladesh, Kenya and Sri Lanka.