2024

Call for Proposals

Proposal Deadline: October 15th

 

Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems

EPICS in IEEE is excited to launch our fall call for proposals that will fund applications of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. We encourage teams to explore technical applications of machine learning, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computing, embedded intelligent systems, generative AI, hybrid intelligent systems, robotics, drone technologies, assistive technologies. EPICS in IEEE proposals should address specific applications of AI in industries such as healthcare, agriculture, education, environmental improvements, and other applications for societal benefit.

Students are encouraged to think creatively about these technical areas that can result in direct societal benefit from a solution that will be adopted by the community partner.

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Partnership Flyer

The projects should be able to be completed in 1 year or less. All projects must have IEEE members involved. We encourage teams to partner with local IEEE sections, chapters, and affinity groups as well as IEEE student branches for projects.

Selected projects will receive up to $10,000 USD, mentorship, and resources.

See the below proposal submission information and funding criteria.

This call for proposals includes funding from the following IEEE Societies; IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS), IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS),  IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) and the IEEE Standards Association. Priority funding will be given to those projects aligned with our partners. Review the technical scope and membership requirements below in the Partner Requirements section before submitting proposals. 

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Proposal Submission Information

Who Can Submit?

    • Any IEEE member may apply for a grant
    • IEEE Student Branches
    • IEEE Young Professionals
    • HKN Chapters
    • IEEE Sections
    • Faculty Members
    • Teachers

Note: At least one member of the team needs to be an IEEE member and all teams must include students.

What is Funded?

    • Grant funding is available to support the implementation of an EPICS in IEEE service learning project (ie. prototyping materials, supplies, local travel). Applicants are encouraged to view the EPICS in IEEE Budget training for more information on how to create an EPICS in IEEE budget. There is a budget template that teams can use to create the budget. 
    • The following items are not eligible for grant funding:
      • International or Excessive Travel
      • Honorariums
      • Research Equipment
      • Equipment for personal use
      • Capital Equipment (this includes laptops/computers for computer labs) 
      • Overhead (general and administrative or indirect costs)
      • Construction or building renovations
      • Grants with an individual as the sole beneficiary
      • Miscellaneous (or any additional budget requests that are not itemized) 
      • Prizes or incentives for participation 
      • Services such as internet or phone plans (unless not available anywhere in the community for reasonable use)

Note: All funding is transferred to the student team through the local IEEE Section. Selected teams will be asked to provide a financial point of contact to assist with funding distribution. It can take 2-3 months to receive funding after selection depending on where the team is located.

Funding Criteria

Programs must meet the following criteria:

    • Students must be involved in the Engineering Design Process in a meaningful way
    • Teams must have at least one IEEE member
    • Projects must have a community partner
    • Must include technology that falls within the scope of IEEE 

Program Evaluation

The EPICS in IEEE Committee will review all proposals using the EPICS in IEEE Project Evaluation RubricCheck out our past approved EPICS in IEEE Projects examples.

The evaluation includes the following elements:

  • Problem summary and justification
  • Description of partnering organization (nonprofit or NGO) and their role
  • Proposed technological solution
    • Budget
    • Timeline
    • Team Composition
    • Project planning documentation
  • Student learning outcomes
  • Impact and assessment plan

Partner Requirements

IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS) and EPICS in IEEE will jointly support service learning projects that look at the intersection of integrated circuits, semiconductors, and AI. If you are part of SSCS please make sure to select SSCS in the partnership drop-down in the application. 

This can include a wide range of topics including but not limited to new materials and devices for non-Von Neumann computing, near memory and in-memory computation and hardware, new AI architectures, edge computing (such as for healthcare, robotics, environment), analog/mixed-signal computing, and/or applications of intelligent hardware systems, digital twins, semiconductor manufacturing, robotics and others.

For more information on SSCS, check out this website sscs.ieee.org.

IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS) is partnering to bring $25,000 for projects from IMS groups. If you are part of IMS please make sure to select IMS in the partnership drop-down in the application. The proposals should have some of the following elements.

  • Development and use of electrical and electronic instruments and equipment to measure, monitor and/or record physical phenomena
  • Include metrology, analog and digital electronic instruments, systems, and standards for measuring and recording electrical quantities (in both frequency and time domains)
  • Can also include instrumentation and transducers for measurement of non-electrical variables, calibration, and uncertainty, instruments with automated control and analysis functions, safety instrumentation, and new technology applications.

IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) is partnering to support projects from AP-S groups that include the following elements. If you are part of AP-S please make sure to select AP-S  in the partnership drop-down in the application.

  • The project leader and faculty advisor need to be an active AP-S Member. Teams can be composed of teachers, faculty members, young professionals, and local AP-S chapter members
  • AP-S-relevant technology should be used in the proposed solution to address a local community challenge
  • The field of interest of the AP-S encompasses:
    • Antennas and applications and systems pertinent to antennas, propagation, and sensing. Click here for the full list of interest areas.

Submission Date & Timeline

    • Accepting Proposals: 1 September 2024 – 15 October 2024
    • Review of Applications*:  November/December 2024
    • Announcement of Grant Recipients: 30 December 2024
    • Funding Distributed: January 2025 
    • Deadline for Final Report: December 2025

*The EPICS in IEEE Committee will review all proposals and final reports. The Final report will be due 1 year after the team receives access to the funds.

Terms and Conditions

  • Team leads must facilitate the completion of photo-release forms, liability waivers, and IP agreements prior to distribution of any funding. 
  • Project lead must submit quarterly check-in reports 
  • A final report, including a financial summary,  must be submitted on or before the 1 year deadline..
  • The funds for the project will be transferred to the team through the local IEEE section.
  • All funds must be spent during 2025.
  • Projects MUST comply with all national/federal, state, and local laws, guidelines, safety codes, and restrictions.
  • All projects that involve children must follow IEEE Guidelines for Working with Children. Any project funding will be contingent on policy compliance.
  • In the event the project collects, uses, processes, or otherwise involves the personal data of any individual, the grantee agrees that they shall, to the maximum extent possible, respect the privacy of those individuals. Grantee will comply with all applicable data privacy laws or regulations.
  • Projects developing a medical technology device must collaborate with medical professionals and/or organizations. EPICS funds may not be used for a) tests of medical equipment on people/animals or b) mass production and/or deployment of devices that require but have not yet undergone the appropriate regulation, such as government approvals. Medical device manufacturing and deployment are highly regulated fields and may require partnership with and approval by relevant national/federal, state, and/or local authorities. 
  • All projects considered for funding will be shared with the IEEE Office of Risk and Insurance Management Services (ORIMS) and, in some cases, the IEEE Legal & Compliance Department, for their review prior to the final decision.
  •  Projects must avoid any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Project teams must abide by the IEEE Principles of Business Conduct. 

Submit your Proposal

Complete the EPICS in IEEE Proposal form in our Grant Management System. Submit your proposal using the link below. For information on how to use our grant management system, see the tutorials linked here. Proposals will be accepted starting September 1st.

Questions?

Do you have any questions you wish to ask about the potential suitability of your proposal? If in doubt, please contact EPICS in IEEE at epicsinieee@ieee.org before submitting your proposal. The committee can review the scope of your project prior to submission.

Past Projects

Empowering Rural Schools: Early Engineering and Smart Energy for Equity – Colombia

Empowering Rural Schools: Early Engineering and Smart Energy for Equity – Colombia

Multimodal Smart Glove for Enhancing Livelihood of Disabled Children-India

Multimodal Smart Glove for Enhancing Livelihood of Disabled Children-India

Water Storage, Automated Irrigation, and Waste Management in the Matoruco Agroecological Garden

Water Storage, Automated Irrigation, and Waste Management in the Matoruco Agroecological Garden

Semi-automated machine for roasting coffee beans- México

Semi-automated machine for roasting coffee beans- México

A Comprehensive Maintenance Strategy for Electric Vehicles: Empowering Rural Communities

A Comprehensive Maintenance Strategy for Electric Vehicles: Empowering Rural Communities

Solar Powered Water Purification and Real-Time Monitoring Project- Kenya

Solar Powered Water Purification and Real-Time Monitoring Project- Kenya

Solar based Street Lights and Maintenance for Sustainable and Safe Communities

Solar based Street Lights and Maintenance for Sustainable and Safe Communities

Swarm DC Grid for Rural Electrification in Topi Region, Pakistan

Swarm DC Grid for Rural Electrification in Topi Region, Pakistan

Snapping Shrimps in Northern Aegean Sea: Acoustic behavior and the impact of noise on the species

Snapping Shrimps in Northern Aegean Sea: Acoustic behavior and the impact of noise on the species

User Customizable Multifunctional Wheelchair for Disabled

User Customizable Multifunctional Wheelchair for Disabled

AI-based coconut dehusking machine – India

AI-based coconut dehusking machine – India

Gili Genting Island’s Oxygen Conservation: IoT-Driven PV-RO for Salt and Drinkable Water Production

Gili Genting Island’s Oxygen Conservation: IoT-Driven PV-RO for Salt and Drinkable Water Production

Development of a solar-Powered Smart Pump Drive for Sustainable Irrigation Farming in Uganda

Development of a solar-Powered Smart Pump Drive for Sustainable Irrigation Farming in Uganda

What we breathe? – North Macedonia – $8,645

What we breathe? – North Macedonia – $8,645

Developing and Testing an automated ramp to ease accessibility to spaces for persons with disabilities and vulnerable members of society.

Developing and Testing an automated ramp to ease accessibility to spaces for persons with disabilities and vulnerable members of society.

An AIoT-powered Smart Agricultural System for Pests Forecasting and Management – Indonesia

An AIoT-powered Smart Agricultural System for Pests Forecasting and Management – Indonesia

IEEE CEC SIGHT – Water Surface Cleaning Robot – $ 5,185.05

IEEE CEC SIGHT – Water Surface Cleaning Robot – $ 5,185.05

CAPTURE – Citywide Assessment and Pollution Tracking for Urban Resilience and Environment

CAPTURE – Citywide Assessment and Pollution Tracking for Urban Resilience and Environment

Smart Wheel Chair Project for the Paralyzed – Nigeria

Smart Wheel Chair Project for the Paralyzed – Nigeria

CLEAN CURRENT – INDIA – $9900

CLEAN CURRENT – INDIA – $9900

Solar PV Powered IoT – Sustainable Smart Greenhouse – USA (WV) -$4000

Solar PV Powered IoT – Sustainable Smart Greenhouse – USA (WV) -$4000

Reliable and Sustainable Clean Water Access for Kakoma Community

Reliable and Sustainable Clean Water Access for Kakoma Community

Smart Monitoring of Fruit Trees: The case of olive trees – Western Turkey

Smart Monitoring of Fruit Trees: The case of olive trees – Western Turkey

HiveGuard: Sustainable Apiculture

HiveGuard: Sustainable Apiculture

Revitalizing Rural School and Empowering Indigenous Communities – Malaysia

Revitalizing Rural School and Empowering Indigenous Communities – Malaysia

Enhancing Water Hygiene: Microplastic Surveillance in Aquatic Environments – Pakistan – $5448

Enhancing Water Hygiene: Microplastic Surveillance in Aquatic Environments – Pakistan – $5448

SMART BIODIGESTERS FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT IN RURAL AREAS – Colombia

SMART BIODIGESTERS FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT IN RURAL AREAS – Colombia

Gaia: Smart and Sustainable Forest – INDIA

Gaia: Smart and Sustainable Forest – INDIA

Mitigating the taxonomic impediment problem of plants using ML and citizen science-Lebanon

Mitigating the taxonomic impediment problem of plants using ML and citizen science-Lebanon

Hydration Automation (HA) – US

Hydration Automation (HA) – US

HyaciGuard: Restoring Water Ecosystem Innovatively

HyaciGuard: Restoring Water Ecosystem Innovatively

Credit based smart garbage disposal bin – India

Credit based smart garbage disposal bin – India

Automatic Water Level Control System for Alternate Wetting-and-drying Technique – Thailand

Automatic Water Level Control System for Alternate Wetting-and-drying Technique – Thailand

Monitoring of Groundwater using IoT – Pakistan

Monitoring of Groundwater using IoT – Pakistan

Automation of the drying of Andean grains for the  vulnerable communities of Angamarca, Cotopaxi

Automation of the drying of Andean grains for the vulnerable communities of Angamarca, Cotopaxi

Rural Community Empowerment through Technology Development and Training on Robots for Smart Farming -India

Rural Community Empowerment through Technology Development and Training on Robots for Smart Farming -India

Augmented Reality 3D System for Interactive Learning in Rural Elementary Schools – Pakistan

Augmented Reality 3D System for Interactive Learning in Rural Elementary Schools – Pakistan

Customizable arm prosthesis with 3D printing technology – Costa Rica

Customizable arm prosthesis with 3D printing technology – Costa Rica

Development of Behavioral Therapy Metaverse for Autistic Children – Pakistan

Development of Behavioral Therapy Metaverse for Autistic Children – Pakistan

Nitrogen-sensing drones for understanding air quality

Nitrogen-sensing drones for understanding air quality

Solar Animal Repellent

Solar Animal Repellent

Improved Solar Dryer Technology to Preserve and Sustain the Quality of Agro-produce

Improved Solar Dryer Technology to Preserve and Sustain the Quality of Agro-produce

Early Hearing Loss Detection for Improved Life Outcomes

Early Hearing Loss Detection for Improved Life Outcomes

Engineering and troubleshooting solar inverter system for cheaper and cleaner energy for the community

Engineering and troubleshooting solar inverter system for cheaper and cleaner energy for the community

Wearable Exoskeleton for Nurses

Wearable Exoskeleton for Nurses

Wsafe – Women Safety Application

Wsafe – Women Safety Application

Engineering Outreach at San Diego K-12 Schools – USA

Engineering Outreach at San Diego K-12 Schools – USA

Improvement of education and quality of life for the girls of the Señora del Milagro orphanage

Improvement of education and quality of life for the girls of the Señora del Milagro orphanage

Smart Mobile Inclusive Learning (SMILE): AI-driven multipurposed therapy for disabled children – Indonesia

Smart Mobile Inclusive Learning (SMILE): AI-driven multipurposed therapy for disabled children – Indonesia

Soft Robotic Glove for Fine Motor Rehabilitation and Task-Specific Training-Peru

Soft Robotic Glove for Fine Motor Rehabilitation and Task-Specific Training-Peru

Smart Glove-Pakistan

Smart Glove-Pakistan

Soft Exosuit for Ambulatory Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), United States, $4000

Soft Exosuit for Ambulatory Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), United States, $4000

Smart E-TRIKE with Detachable Wheels for Disabled Students to Enhance their Competency – India

Smart E-TRIKE with Detachable Wheels for Disabled Students to Enhance their Competency – India

Emergency Evacuation System for Disabilities in Wheelchair – United States

Emergency Evacuation System for Disabilities in Wheelchair – United States

Self-Navigating Robotic Walking Aid for Elderly People Using Multi-Sensor Fusion-Based Human Tracking – Malaysia

Self-Navigating Robotic Walking Aid for Elderly People Using Multi-Sensor Fusion-Based Human Tracking – Malaysia

Smart Outdoor Wheel Chair using IOT for the Paralyzed – INDIA

Smart Outdoor Wheel Chair using IOT for the Paralyzed – INDIA

Smart Fall Detection Tiles for Disabled People-India

Smart Fall Detection Tiles for Disabled People-India

IOT Based Smart Assistant Cane for the Visually Impaired-India

IOT Based Smart Assistant Cane for the Visually Impaired-India

Wheelchair Electric Assist-USA

Wheelchair Electric Assist-USA

Sound Detection System-Canada

Sound Detection System-Canada

MindVoice, EEG-Enhanced Voice Assistance for Older Adults – USA

MindVoice, EEG-Enhanced Voice Assistance for Older Adults – USA

Elderly People Fall Detection System Using Radar Technology – Pakistan

Elderly People Fall Detection System Using Radar Technology – Pakistan

Smart Toilet for Sustainable Use Within Communities-Uganda

Smart Toilet for Sustainable Use Within Communities-Uganda

Closing the Gap in Engineering Education for People with Disabilities-Panama

Closing the Gap in Engineering Education for People with Disabilities-Panama

BLUE PEW – Indonesia

BLUE PEW – Indonesia

Aural Rehabilitation for Children in Tamil Language – India

Aural Rehabilitation for Children in Tamil Language – India

Artificial Robotic Material (ARM) for treating Motor disorders in children – India – $1160

Artificial Robotic Material (ARM) for treating Motor disorders in children – India – $1160

An Eye for Blind

An Eye for Blind

Adaptive Mouse – USA

Adaptive Mouse – USA

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE RECYCLING CENTER AT ANKOLE INSTITUTE

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE RECYCLING CENTER AT ANKOLE INSTITUTE

IEEE INNOVATIVE STUDENT STEM PROGRAM

IEEE INNOVATIVE STUDENT STEM PROGRAM

Space and Agriculture Robotics – Rokit

Space and Agriculture Robotics – Rokit

Renewable Power Source(s) and Related Technologies Vehicle for Educational Outreach

Renewable Power Source(s) and Related Technologies Vehicle for Educational Outreach

Design and development of a Low-Cost Stair Lift

Design and development of a Low-Cost Stair Lift

Light Trap Systems for Lepidopteran Pest Monitoring

Light Trap Systems for Lepidopteran Pest Monitoring

Generating Environmentally Friendly Power while Reducing Ill-health

Generating Environmentally Friendly Power while Reducing Ill-health

ISort – Sort and Shredding Machine to change Gen Z

ISort – Sort and Shredding Machine to change Gen Z

Vietnam Sustainable Shrimp Farming

Vietnam Sustainable Shrimp Farming

Pico satellite for measuring meteorological and water conditions

Pico satellite for measuring meteorological and water conditions

Manim – An Animation library

Manim – An Animation library

Environment friendly and Efficient Honey Harvest Alert System for Bee Farms

Environment friendly and Efficient Honey Harvest Alert System for Bee Farms

Project Koyash

Project Koyash

Increasing Inclusion of Visually Impaired People with a Mobile Application for English Learning

Increasing Inclusion of Visually Impaired People with a Mobile Application for English Learning

Dreck Administration for Immaculate Purlieu

Dreck Administration for Immaculate Purlieu

Installation of Solar System at Itara Health Center

Installation of Solar System at Itara Health Center

Sustainable Localized Food and Educational Systems

Sustainable Localized Food and Educational Systems

Reducing Chicagoland Ecological Footprints via Outdoor Recreation Centers and Personal Gardening

Reducing Chicagoland Ecological Footprints via Outdoor Recreation Centers and Personal Gardening

Measuring Nitrogen Level in Carmans River by using a Conductive Polymer-Based Sensor

Measuring Nitrogen Level in Carmans River by using a Conductive Polymer-Based Sensor

Lights for Uplifting Mankind, Environment and Nature

Lights for Uplifting Mankind, Environment and Nature

Design and Development of Head-mounted Assistive Device for the Blind Using Computer Vision

Design and Development of Head-mounted Assistive Device for the Blind Using Computer Vision

Urban Gardens for Sustainable Education and Agriculture

Urban Gardens for Sustainable Education and Agriculture

Lake Litter Solutions

Lake Litter Solutions

Spatial Extent Monitoring of Coastal Sunny-day Flooding

Spatial Extent Monitoring of Coastal Sunny-day Flooding

Project DIANA

Project DIANA

Henry County Aquaponics in the Park

Henry County Aquaponics in the Park

Aeration Project with AZGFD

Aeration Project with AZGFD

ASU EPICS: Hydration Station

ASU EPICS: Hydration Station

San Jose State University – Sustainability Education through Aquaponics

San Jose State University – Sustainability Education through Aquaponics

STEMbility

STEMbility

Ride-on Cars for Children with Disabilities (Go-Baby-Go)

Ride-on Cars for Children with Disabilities (Go-Baby-Go)

Understanding and Designing a PV Power Plant for Usage in a High School in Barranquilla

Understanding and Designing a PV Power Plant for Usage in a High School in Barranquilla

Recycling as a Viable Industry for Supported Employment of those with Disabilities

Recycling as a Viable Industry for Supported Employment of those with Disabilities

Lightning Monitor

Lightning Monitor

Elementary Energy

Elementary Energy

Wireless Sensor Network for the Restoration of Oyster Beds in the Great Bay of New Hampshire

Wireless Sensor Network for the Restoration of Oyster Beds in the Great Bay of New Hampshire

UCT Western Cape Breeze

UCT Western Cape Breeze

Sun in a Bottle

Sun in a Bottle

Virtual Reality Vision Therapy

Virtual Reality Vision Therapy

Education and Outreach of Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy

Education and Outreach of Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy

STEM Beyond the Borders

STEM Beyond the Borders

Cardiac Health Care: Exploring ICT for Cardiovascular Diseases Using Phonocardiography

Cardiac Health Care: Exploring ICT for Cardiovascular Diseases Using Phonocardiography

Digital Literacy in Rural India

Digital Literacy in Rural India

Intelligent Bookshelf

Intelligent Bookshelf

Communicative Hand Glove for the Hearing Impaired

Communicative Hand Glove for the Hearing Impaired

Development of Hand-Cycle for Children with Movement Disorders

Development of Hand-Cycle for Children with Movement Disorders

Acquisition Electronic Card

Acquisition Electronic Card

Portable Refrigerators for Use in Disadvantaged and Rural Settlements

Portable Refrigerators for Use in Disadvantaged and Rural Settlements

My Robot Friend

My Robot Friend

Low-cost ground reaction force line biofeedback for static posture training – Smart Mirror

Low-cost ground reaction force line biofeedback for static posture training – Smart Mirror

Real Time Sign Language Conversion to Audio

Real Time Sign Language Conversion to Audio

Wrist Band for Hearing Impaired

Wrist Band for Hearing Impaired

Learning Aids for Visually Challenged

Learning Aids for Visually Challenged

Wind-Powered Electrical Supply for Humanitarian Field Operations

Wind-Powered Electrical Supply for Humanitarian Field Operations

Rallybots

Rallybots

Air-quality Microsensors for Earth Observations

Air-quality Microsensors for Earth Observations

Green Cart

Green Cart

IP Telephony System Implementation

IP Telephony System Implementation

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Program

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Program

Image Processing Approach to the Modelling and Design of an Intelligent Traffic Control System

Image Processing Approach to the Modelling and Design of an Intelligent Traffic Control System

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development Laboratory (RESDL)

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development Laboratory (RESDL)

Device to Assist Communication of Disabled Based on Hand Gesture Recognition

Device to Assist Communication of Disabled Based on Hand Gesture Recognition

Monitoring Air Quality Near Marcellus Shale Drilling Sites

Monitoring Air Quality Near Marcellus Shale Drilling Sites

Giving a Voice to the Voiceless

Giving a Voice to the Voiceless

NYANGA SOLAR WATER HEATERS

NYANGA SOLAR WATER HEATERS

Bangalore Computer-Based Education for the Visually Impaired

Bangalore Computer-Based Education for the Visually Impaired

Uruguay E-Scientia Exhibit

Uruguay E-Scientia Exhibit

Zambia Digital Teaching Units

Zambia Digital Teaching Units

Namibia Science Lab

Namibia Science Lab

Oaklands School Computer Lab & Power Supply

University of KwaZulu-Natal Photovoltaic Lamps

University of KwaZulu-Natal Photovoltaic Lamps

Zambia OpenBTS

Zambia OpenBTS

Communication Device to Assist Children with Cognitive Disorders

Using Renewable Energy to Promote Rural Education

Using Renewable Energy to Promote Rural Education

Developing A Real Time Activity Recognition for Children with Communication and Social Interaction Disabilities

Developing A Real Time Activity Recognition for Children with Communication and Social Interaction Disabilities

Zimbabwe Lightning Occurrences

Zimbabwe Lightning Occurrences

Humasol Solar Cells

Humasol Solar Cells

Kerala Traffic Control

Kerala Traffic Control

Supporting Organizations