The Altaghat Trustees are a group of highly motivated individuals who would like to do a little bit of good in the world. As such the original concept for the Altaghat Tourist Resort was born in 1995. However, it took several years to locate a suitable piece of land. The land in fact turned out to be a marginal coffee plantation located within the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, but overlooking the forests of Kerala state towards the West. The land base consists of 100 acres. The resident Indian Trustees acquired the partnership holding title to the lands and began the laborious job of trying to improve the poor soil conditions and the lot of the workers on the land. The Canadian Trustees, who enjoy de facto non-resident Indian or NRI status, developed the model for converting 10% of the 100 available acres to a more profitable use.
The Trustees determined that due to the proximity to the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Anamalai Forestry Reserve, the eco-tourism potential was enormous. All of the Trustees are committed to the preservation and protection of India's endangered wildlife and dwindling forests, but still felt something more was needed. Early on, the idea of combining the resort with the operation of a women's shelter for women who are abused, either physically or socially, was mooted by the Trustees, and finally agreed upon. The proposed project allows the Trustees to accomplish five objectives:
The Altaghat Trustees believe that given the land base and its exotic location, these objectives can be achieved. By contributing the land to the Altaghat Project, it is their hope to see others contribute to make this eco-tourism and cultural resort a reality, thereby being of sustainable service to disadvantaged Indian women. This is why the Trustees are prepared to accept both donations of cash and services in order to achieve the above objectives.
The Trustees are:
Dexter B. Dombro,B.A., LL.B.
is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is the President of the Canadian marketing arm of the RPC International Trust Foundation,
and one of its directors. He has significant business experience, in both private and public companies, as well as from the
practice of law with his own firm for a dozen years. He has been instrumental in the detail planning of the Altaghat Project.
Dr. Kochu R. Dombro,B.Sc., D.D.S. was born in India, but studied dentistry in Canada. She has worked on a number of humanitarian projects, include Kindness in Action in Guatemala, Belize and Peru,
and has adopted two children besides her own. Dr. Dombro has also gained substantial business experience over the years in
private and public companies, and in non-profit cultural associations.
Thomas Antony,B.A., LL.B. is a senior advocate at the High Court of Kerala. Besides his legal career, he has travelled internationally and become a respected voice on environmental protection issues, like his father Dr. V. V. Antony before him. Mr. Antony has been the manager of the Altaghat plantation, and is the local link for the Trustees.
Josepheenamma Thomas,B.A., M.A. is a tireless worker, who understands the physical and legal fate many Indian women face as a result of domestic or social abuse. She is a valuable cultural organizer for the Trustees. Mrs. Thomas is not afraid to ask the hard questions needed to make good decisions.
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© 2003 - 2006 Altaghat Trustees and RPC International Trust Foundation