US Rep. Nancy Mace Criticizes $750K USAID Grant to Sonam Kapoor's Husband's Company to Alleviate loneliness in India

US Rep. Nancy Mace Criticizes $750K USAID Grant to Sonam Kapoor's Husband's Company to Alleviate loneliness in India 

Washington, D.C., USA – In a recent revelation that has sparked a heated debate, U.S. Representative Nancy Mace has criticized a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to an NGO connected to Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor's family. The grant, awarded in 2020, aimed to alleviate loneliness among migrant garment workers in India.

The Controversial Grant

The grant was awarded to the Good Business Lab Foundation, co-founded by Anant Ahuja, the brother of Sonam Kapoor's husband, Anand Ahuja. The funding was intended to support migrant garment workers in India, particularly young female workers, by addressing issues of social isolation and mental health challenges. The program involved pairing junior workers with senior colleagues to provide mentorship and emotional support.

Political Backlash

Rep. Nancy Mace has criticized the grant, questioning whether USAID's focus on global humanitarian efforts is diverting attention from American interests. In her statement, Mace expressed concern over the allocation of foreign aid, suggesting that such expenditures may not align with U.S. priorities.

The controversy has raised broader questions about the allocation of foreign aid and the potential for political interference. Reports indicate that officials from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sought access to the U.S. Treasury's payment system to halt USAID's fund transfers, raising concerns about the motivations behind the scrutiny.

The Good Business Lab Foundation's Mission

The Good Business Lab Foundation, led by Anant Ahuja, aims to design, test, and scale programs that align worker well-being with business interests. The USAID-funded project involved a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 1,000 female junior factory workers at six factories, aiming to provide a scalable model for improving mental health among migrant workers.

Rep. Nancy Mace's comments have ignited a debate over the role of USAID and the appropriateness of its grants. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact future foreign aid policies and the ongoing efforts to support migrant workers in India.