On October 2, 1983, the President of India launched Impact India Foundation (IIF) through a National Plan of Action. IIF emerged as an initiative against avoidable disablement following a United Nations General Assembly Resolution. IIF is a registered public charitable trust. IIF's two flagship programmes are The Lifeline Express (LLE) hospital train and the Community Health Initiative (CHI). IIF acts as a catalyst to bring together the Government, the corporate sector and existing NGOs in mass health programmes of National priority to ensure a healthy and vibrant India.
Originally promoted by different UN agencies, UNDP, UNICEF and WHO, in association with the Governments of each participating country, IIF is part of a 13-member International Federation of IMPACT Organisations (IFIO) that meet once in two years to deliberate on issues related to disability prevention and reduction.