Google's philanthropic arm on Friday announced more than $25 million in grants for a wide-ranging environmental, energy and poverty combating efforts, including $2 million to Indian NGO, Pratham, for an education project.

Google also announced $765,000 for Bangalore-based Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, $6,60,000 for Center for Policy Research, $1,015,000 for Institute for Finance Management & Research and $8,80,000 for NGO database information PRS Legislative Research

It is part of $175 million the company’s board pledged in 2005 to spend over three years. When Google went public in 2004, executives pledged to donate 1 per cent of the company’s equity and 1 per cent of profits to philanthropy.

“We started with an idea and a vision to make the world a better place,” said Google vice-president of online operations Sheryl Sandberg, member of Google.org board of directors.

“We now embark on trying to work with people all over the world. We realise we are a small player, but we hope to be a player that catalyses others.”

In the area of improving public services, Google.org said $2 million of the funding will go to Pratham to create an independent institute that will conduct the nationwide Annual Status of Education Report as well as large scale assessments in the education sector.

As part of its “predict and prevent” push, Google.org is donating $2.5 million to respond to biological threats to the Global Health and Security Initiative, a group set up by the Nuclear Threat Initiative run by US Senator Sam Nunn.

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