Bangalore: The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a leading national Political Action Committee (PAC) of the Indian American community in the United States has set out its agenda to actively promote the cause of the Indian community in the US.

Bipartisan in its approach, USINPAC believes that the sizeable majority of Indian Americans will have a strong impact on issues of concern to the community. "USINPAC is all set to host the first ever 'India Caucus Day' on February 13 with the present and past Chairs of the India Caucus, along with their Congressional staffers," Rupen Shah of USINPAC told Indiainfo.com in an exclusive e-mail interview.

Excerpts of the interview:

How did this concept of a forum for the Indian American community evolve? Who are the brains behind the move and what is your larger aim?

Sanjay Puri, executive director, took the lead in organising USINPAC after one of his colleagues, who used to run one of the most influential and powerful PACs for another very successful community, convinced him of the need to do the same for the Indian American community.

Sanjay, who runs a successful IT company, agreed that something needed to be done, rallied friends and volunteers to join him in the effort, and has been tireless in reaching out to the entire community. He has tremendous dynamism and passionate dedication to the cause of building brand equity for our community. The USINPAC team consists mostly of individuals who met with Sanjay subsequent to the formation of USINPAC – a testimonial to the vision, organising skills, and dedication of Sanjay.

Political giving is a fine art in the country, and the Indian American community had so far not been leveraging its collective voice – USINPAC is focusing the viewpoint of the community, and provides a strong, clear voice on Capitol Hill and the White House for the community.

A constant feedback from Capitol Hill has been that the community has never reached out to make bridges with the establishment – USINPAC is aggressively working to build bridges with US political leadership, their staff, and leading think tanks.

At a high level, USINPAC provides access and sophisticated relationship building for the community. The awareness about the Indian American community, and India, is quite low among many US leaders and their key staff – at times they have never met an Indian American, or equate Indian Americans with native American Indians!

What impact has USINPAC made vis-à-vis its mission as illustrated below: "Mission is to Ensure That We Impact US Government Policy on Issues of Concern to the Indian American Community." Can you please elaborate on your mission statement too?

In pursuance of its mission, USINPAC consolidates the issues and concerns of the community; packages them with a sharp, concise message; and then enables the community to deliver that message to the highest echelons of US leadership. USINPAC leverages its Washington DC location to follow-up and gain traction for resolution of issues raised by the community.

USINPAC also works closely with various organisations of the Indian American community – be they social, political, or professional organizations. Each of these organisations benefit from the access that a PAC provides in the US political system. USINPAC fills that critical role and these organisations provide the issues that need to be addressed by the Indian American community.

USINPAC continuously solicits the community’s opinion, and acts as an enabler in refining and packaging the issues of concern to the community. As the community’s concerns change over time, so does USINPAC’s agenda. However, USINPAC has established certain long-term objectives – enhancing participation of Indian Americans in US political process and public service; increasing opportunities for Indian American entrepreneurs; and improving US-India strategic trade and security relations.

USINPAC’s Capitol Hill outreach is moving aggressively – it is arranging a monthly “Breakfast on the Hill” with leading Senators and Congress people to have substantive discussions on issues of concern to the community. Detailed discussions have been held with Senator Orrin Hatch (Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee), Senator Chuck Grassley (Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee), and Senator Richard Lugar (Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee). Meetings are also scheduled with the two Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans; Senator Joseph Lieberman; and Senator Sam Brownback; in the coming months.

USINPAC’s Capitol Hill outreach is enabling sophisticated relationship building for the community, as well as resolution of specific issues of concern to the community. In pursuit of its mission, USINPAC also contributed to the election campaigns of several candidates in the November 2002 elections, including Kumar Barve, who is now the majority leader in the Maryland House of Delegates – the first ever for an Indian American!

USINPAC has also been able to obtain encouragement form senior Congressional leaders for enhanced Indian American appointments in federal jobs, including judiciary, and on Capitol Hill; has galvanized support for new members to join the India Caucus, particularly Republican leaders; informed top leaders about critical value of enhanced US – India ties; and established ties with leading think tanks that influence thinking in the decision making circles.

USINPAC has also recently worked to prevent the appointment of Dan Burton as Chair of the crucial South Asia Sub-Committee – Dan Burton has been an India-basher and his appointment would have negatively affected US India relations.

Have you been able to make the Bush administration see that the Indian American community has got very little political returns for the contributed dollars to Capitol Hill?

USINPAC’s Capitol Hill outreach also targets the creation of ’brand equity’ for the Indian American community. Professional packaging of the community’s viewpoint, and consolidation of political giving under the USINPAC name, is raising awareness in the political establishment that the Indian American community now seeks to contribute in a meaningful way, with due accountability for its contributions to the American society at large.

The pattern of mostly fragmented giving by Indian Americans, thus far, has failed to impact the US political process for the larger good of the community, as well as the individual contributors have not gained the enhanced benefits which they could obtain through leveraging the collective brand equity. USINPAC is playing a critical role in making public leaders aware of the collective voice of the Indian American community.

Can you elaborate on – "Provide incentives to local organisations and politically active individuals by contributing financially to their events."

In keeping with its philosophy as an enabling organisation for the Indian American community, and seeking to build brand equity for the Indian American community, USINPAC offers to co-invest with other organisations, who contribute to electoral races in their geographic areas. During campaign periods, several Indian American organisations and politically active individuals organise fund raisers for their local candidates nationwide - USINPAC offers to contribute to their fund raisers to increase the national impact of our contributions since the contributions are now being consolidated and also show solidarity with our local partners.

What is your future course of action and the events that you propose to host?

USINPAC’s activities are determined by its overall mission to influence US policy on issues of concern to the Indian American community. Certain long-term activities include engaging India Caucus to be more effective, exploring formation of a caucus or friends of India group in the Senate and serving needs of Indian American professionals from different industries.

Existing monthly USINPAC events include “Breakfast on the Hill” with top US leadership; “Power behind the Power Luncheon” with top Congressional aides; and “Meeting of Minds” with leading think tanks.

Plans for 2003 include holding joint events with other associations of the Indian American community, facilitating trips for Congressional staffers to India, and perhaps a fund-raiser with top celebrities from the film or music world. USINPAC is also hosting the first ever “India Caucus Day” on February 13 with the present and past Chairs of the India Caucus, along with their Congressional staffers.

Do you cater only to the needs of the Indian American community? Have you received any requests from the other South Asian communities in the US?

USINPAC caters specifically to the needs of the Indian American community, however at times there are other communities or groupings that participate in USINPAC events – we welcome any and all friends who contribute to the USINPAC mission. So far USINPAC has not received requests from the other South Asian communities in the US.

What are your sources of funding?

USINPAC raises funds from individuals in the Indian American community. USINPAC would like to draw its strength from the each and every Indian American. There are over 1.8 million Indian Americans in the US. Collectively they make a very strong statement.

USINPAC has recently launched its grassroots movement with the belief that each and every Indian American will step up to the plate and contribute money to ensure a better place for all of us in the coming years. A sizeable majority of them contributing small amount of sums will have a strong impact on issues of concern to Indian Americans.