DHAKA: US billionaire Bill Gates will dine with some of India’s wealthiest people this weekend in a bid to encourage them to give more to charity, in a country where the rich are still seen as relatively tight-fisted.

The gathering will be hosted by tycoon Azim Premji, founder of Bangalore-based software giant Wipro and one of India's biggest donors, an executive close to the businessman told media on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.

‘They will be meeting privately to allow them to speak freely’ about philanthropy, the executive told media.

The meeting comes amid disquiet in India about a yawning divide between the burgeoning wealthy class and hundreds of millions still living in deep poverty.

BDST: 2101 HRS, SEP 20, 2014