Melinda Gates visits Maoist-hit village

Gates’ aversion to touch base with the state government is part of the BMGF’s protocol, where it avoids engaging with local administration. Various branches of the Union government — including the Ministry of Home Affairs — were, however, in the loop about the visit. Though her team did not make use of police and the CRPF, a South Africa-based security agency that handles the Gates’ security had conducted multiple reconnaissance trips to Jharkhand over past few months. As a part of her extensive security, even phones and photography were not permitted.

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Melinda, who, earlier this year, was awarded the Padma Bhushan along with her husband, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, reached Ranchi by a chartered flight Saturday with the regional media reporting she was to meet the Chief Minister. However, the only thing on her plate was the visit to Khunti, where she intended to see a women empowerment project run by the NGO Pradan.

After interacting with villagers, Melinda visited Pradan’s Khunti office and she left for Delhi in the evening.

A statement by the BMGF read, “The Jharkhand visit of Melinda Gates… was an opportunity to learn more about self-help groups as a platform for supporting those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.”