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Press Releases from the Embassy
Japan-India
Relations
Press Release No.1 |
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GOVERNMENT
OF JAPAN EXTENDS US$78,936 GRANT
ASSISTANCE FOR TWO GRASSROOTS PROJECTS
New Delhi, 24th March
2005
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| 1. |
The
Embassy of Japan in India, under its scheme ‘Grant
Assistance for Grassroots Projects’, today decided
to extend grant assistance totaling US$78,936 (approximately
equivalent to Rs.34 lacs) to two Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) to support safe water projects
undertaken by them. The following NGOs and projects
are receiving the Grants:
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| (i) |
Allahabad
Agricultural Institute was established
in Uttar Pradesh some 27 years ago. Since its inception,
the Institute has trained many youth and women
leaders, besides providing technical advice to
rural farmers. Considering the severe water shortage,
especially potable water, in some parts of Uttar
Pradesh, the Institute planned a project for installation
of 80 hand pumps, for which they approached
the Embassy of Japan.
Realizing the need, the Embassy of Japan
decided to give a grant assistance of US$29,712 for the project.
With this project, people of 25 villages in district Allahabad
of Uttar Pradesh will get safe drinking water near their places.
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| (ii) |
Centre
for Rural Development and Consultants Society (CRD) was
formed with the objective of rural development
in Rajasthan, especially focusing on water related
problems. The targeted area is severely affected
by drought conditions. As a result, water table
goes down, shallow hand-pumps go dry, people suffer
from water-borne diseases as they do not have access
to safe drinking water, and also forcing people
to go as far as 2-4 kms. to fetch potable water.
To eradicate the grim situation of safe drinking water, CRD decided
to install hand pumps and requested financial assistance from the Embassy of
Japan for the same. To augment the efforts of CRD in providing safe drinking
water to 25 villages of Tonk and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan, the
Embassy of Japan decided to grant them a sum of US$49,224 for installing
75 hand pumps.
Once the project is fully implemented, people living in these
remote villages will not have to travel long distance to get safe drinking water,
and it will also reduce the risk of water-borne diseases.
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| 2. |
The
Signing Ceremony to formalize the arrangements is
scheduled to take place at 16:00 hrs. on Thursday,
24 March 2005, at the Embassy of Japan, between Ambassador
Yasukuni Enoki and the respective representatives
of the above NGOs.
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| 3. |
The
scheme of "Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects" was
introduced by the Government of Japan in 1989, to
provide timely assistance directly to the activities
of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), hospitals,
etc., towards promoting welfare of the people in
developing countries. Projects eligible for the grant
assistance include such fields as primary healthcare,
primary education, care of the handicapped people,
poverty alleviation, enhancing status of women, public
welfare, environment protection, etc. The Embassy
of Japan and the Consulates General of Japan in Mumbai,
Kolkata and Chennai are in charge of this scheme
in their respective regions.
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| 4. |
For
further information, please contact Mr. Akira Kido,
Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan. Telephone No.
91-11-2687-6581. |
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