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No.574
(Circular No.88/12)

   10th June 2005

To,

The Secretaries of all daughter Lodges

Dear Sir and W./Brother,

Please refer to our circular letter No.31l2 dated 23rd December 2003 regarding various.
funds available in Grand Lodge of India and guidelines for utilization of funds. The said letter alongwith the guidelines are reproduced below for your use:

"At the meeting of the Grand Board held in Bangalore on 16th November 2003, I was directed to bring to the attention of each Craft Lodge under our Constitution the various funds and Scholarships managed by the Grand Lodge of India so that members are made aware and are able to plan their Masonic activities keeping in view that, in certain situations, the Grand Lodge may also be able to help provide some resources in furtherance of Masonic activity/ideals.

The various funds which manage these resources are :-

The Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence
The Grand Lodge Building Fund
PM Sundaram Shasthi Abdapoorthi Scholarship Fund and
The Grand Lodge Relief Fund

Utilisation of the Funds is managed by the Finance Committee of the Board in tcrms of Guidelines approved by the Board of General Purposes from time to time. Guidelincs, as applicable at present, are enclosed.

Please note that all requests have to be made to the respective Regional Grand Lodge who have been entrusted with the task of vetting the requests and only those requests which have been endorsed by the RGL would be considered by the Finance Committee. The Committee usually meets twice in each year in January and July and all requests received, duly endorsed by the Regional Grand Lodge, 30 days prior to a meeting would be placed before the next meeting of the Finance Committee.

Apart from above funds, there is the Grand Masters Rupee Club which has funds which are dispersed by the Grand Master at his sole discretion for worthwhile projects (not covered by the Fund of Benevolence).

Proposals for Scholarships from the PM Sundaram Shasthi Abdapoorthi Fund and the orand Lodge Relief Fund are invited each year by the Qrand Secretary which, after review and recommendation of the Regional Grand Lodge, are considered and approved by the Trustees on the basis on attached guidelines.

You are requested to acknowledge this circular to me after having read the same in open Lodge.

With greetings,

 

Copy to :

  1. The President, Board of General Purposes
  2. The Regional Grand Secretary, RGL of EI/NI/SI/WI,
  3. The Chairman, Finance Committee

 

GRAND LODGE OF INDIA

Guidelines for the Fund of Benevolence
 

As a general rule, each proposal has to be examined on its merits. Accordingly no set of standard guidlines can be set but assistance would have to be evaluated on a case to case basis. However, the principals to be followed are :

  1. Grant from thc GLI fund must be subject to matching grant from the RGL fund and/or the Lodge.

  2. The contributions to be raisodlinvcsted by the daughter Lodge has to be a minimum of 50% in the case of major repairs/renovation and 70% in respect of a new building.

  3. The Region, while recommending a proposal, must comment on the basis on which the expendituly bas been assessed and requested for. by the daughter Lodge.

  4. The Region must comment on the financial status and ability to manage resources of the daughter Lodge.

  5. Assistance from the Grand Lodge would require that the Masonic Building vests in a Trust / Society Sec 25 Company and that the said institution has the authority to (a) appointment of additional Trustees/ Members of the Committee/Directors and (b) incorporate a clause that in the event of winding up, all assets shall vest in the Grand Lodge of India. This shall be verified and infonned by the Regional Grand Lodge.

  6. It has to be ensured that the contribution made by the GLI/RGL cannot be diverted in any other purpose other than renovation/construction. For this purpose the outflow/utilization after Contribution from GLI/RGL happens will need to be signd for by thc RGL/GLI trustees as being one of the signatories to the Bank Account of the Lodge Trust.

  7. GLl/RGL contribution to the daughter Lodge with only be released when 50% of the expenditure/work has been completed. For this purpose, the Region would be expected to set up a monitoring and reporting system. It would be useful to receive a monthly report on the progress of the project once sanction has been conununicatcd by GLI/RGL on thc request of a daughter Lodge.

  8. The committee clearly rccommends that thc Grand Master or his representativc must be invited and should attend dedication/re-dedication of Masonic Temple set up consequcot to a contribution from the GLl/RGL fund.

  9. While Lodge property so constructed need not vest in the Grand Lodge / Regional Grand Lodge, the Trust Deed should provide that any sale of such property would be by unanimous decision of the Trustees.

Guidelines for Building Fund
 
  1. Each proposal, which is in furtherance of Masonic ideals of Charity and Relief, would be considered on merits and is subject to the recommendation of the Regional Grand Lodge.

  2. Grant from the GLI Fund of Benevolence will be subject to a matching grant from the RGL Fund and/or the Lodge.

  3. Contributions from the Fund of Benevolence would not exceed 15% of the total expenditure.

  4. The Region would be required to comment on the basis of which the expenditure is proposed as well as the monitoring mechanism.

  5. GLI contributions will be released after RGL confirms having released funds ~ and the Lodges' contribution.

  6. The Regional Grand Lodge shall ensure that a report is submitted to the Grand Lodge on the project not later than 30days of the funds having been released by the Grand Lodge. If the project is being managed through a Trust/Society, the RGL shall ensure that a representative of the RGL/GU each is inducted in the Board of Trustees/Managing Committee so that the project adheres to its objectives throughout its useful life.

  7. The Fund of Benevolence expects that the Grand Master would be invited for the dedication/ inauguration of the Project set up consequent to a contribution from the GLIFund of Benevolence.

Guidelines for R.W.Bro.P.M.Sundaram Shasthi Apdapoorthi Scholarship Fund Bursaries
 
  1. Cut of Marks - 55% (in the last qualifying examination)

  2. Income of the household preferably not to be above Rs.3000/- p.m.

  3. Priority to be given if the applicants/recipients father is not alive.

  4. Due weightage for the child of a Mason.

  5. Not more than one candidate from one family if found eligible, will be given scholarship.

  6. The bursaries for the students is Rs.200/- p.m. for School Students and Rs.250/- p.m. for College Students.

Guidelines for Grand Lodge of India Relief Fund Bursaries
 
  1. The bursaries for the students is Rs.500/- per quarter.

  2. These will be payable half yearly to the selected students through the Regions concerned.

  3. The awards are mainly to assist the education of children of Defence Personnel and men of the Armed Forces, the Police, Civil Defence and other services, who lost their lives on active service or through enemy action.

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