Since it begins as the one-man-operation of a 64 year old, this will be a dream in three parts. I would be grateful if even only Part-1 is realised. But the aim is to realise all three.
…
Part-1 of the dream, is to acquire a patch of abandoned land and turn it over to trees and nature. This should take between five and eight years. As the land has already been acquired in 2006, the earliest target year for realising Dream-1, is 2011. During this period, the campus will be planned, trees planted, infrastructure created and resources marshalled for the next two phases.
Part-2 is to make the land generate sustained surpluses of money. It will be from the produce of trees and crops. Processing the seeds of Pongamia Pinnata trees for biodiesel will be the main income activity. A small work-place for this conversion work will come up by 2010. There may be small quarters for paying guests.
Part-3 of the dream would complete the grand plan. By 2012, an assessment of what is the reliable, steady annual income of pointReturn might be, will be made. Based on that number, a learning centre for non-formally skilled children will commence along with a centre for experiments. Two or three core experimenters will be resident on the campus, teaching and working with the children. Several will visit for various periods of time and pursue their ideas.
…
I have funds budgeted to drive the project till 2014. Whether the planned funds will suffice, is something only time can tell. That is a factor of time and circumstances. It appears adequate, based on experience.
If Part-1 is realised and the campus begins to generate income, Part-2 will be realised and pointReturn will gain self-sufficiency between 2014 and 2018; my funding will be tapered off when this happens.
When Part-3 is also realised, pointReturn will be on its own, run by a governing council under the trustees of GoodNewsIndia Foundation. It’s various experimental projects can then seek funding from outside if necessary. The ideal would of course be to be entirely self-sufficient; indeed be a net exporter of fuel, food, funds to the local community and ideas, worldwide.