The surplus funds left with the organisers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally at Madison Square Garden in New York in September last year — about $3,00,000 or Rs. 1.8 crore — will be used for building toilets in rural India. Mr. Modi has made sanitation and cleanliness part of his governance agenda.

Chicago-based oncologist Bharat Barai, who led the organising committee, told The Hindu that Mr. Modi had given directions to that effect. “We asked for his directions as the money was raised in his name,” said Dr. Barai, who met Mr. Modi on Monday.

The organisers had raised $1.86 million and the expenses totalled $1.56 million. Most of the money was raised through individual contributions of $10,000 while a handful of people contributed $50,000 each.

Dr. Barai said the Indian community that organised the reception for Mr. Modi has plans to make it an annual affair, taking the function to different cities each year. Mr. Modi visits the U.S. most years to attend the U.N. General Assembly in September. “For next year, we are proposing Silicon Valley, Chicago and some other cities. Depending on directions from the PM, we will proceed,” Dr. Barai said.