1.         The Embassy of Japan in India, under its scheme ‘Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GAGP)’, today decided to extend grant assistance totaling US$264,139 (approximately equivalent to Rs.1.24 crore) to five Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to support grassroots projects undertaken by them. The following NGOs and projects are receiving the Grants:

(i)     Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital was founded in 1914 with a specific purpose, that is to enable those people in the community who normally could not afford to pay for medical treatment, to receive quality eye care.

The Embassy would provide a grant amount of US$75,949 to the hospital for procuring advanced ophthalmic equipments, so that a much larger number of underprivileged people of Delhi can receive good quality eye care.

(ii)    Lok Sewa Samiti was established in 1979 and has been actively engaged in various projects on rural development, especially water projects. With the Japanese assistance of US$78,484, Lok Sewa Samiti will install 77 hand pumps in the drought affected 49 villages of Nagaur district, Rajasthan.

 (iii)   The North Eastern Boys’ Scout and Girls’ Guide Association was formed in 1987, primarily to promote education of children and youth development.  The Embassy will provide them a grant of US$30,093 for the construction of a School building in Koirengei, Imphal East, Manipur.

(iv)   OISCA International North India was established in the year 2000 and is actively pursuing projects on environment and sustainable development. Availing the Japanese grant of US$2,922, OISCA-North India will undertake Children’s Forest Program to grow mini forests in 10 schools of Delhi and Haryana.  This program helps school children understand the importance of environment protection and also cultivates environmental ethics among them.

(v)   State Resource Centre, Bhartiya Grameen Mahila Sangh was established in 1985. It has been providing qualitative, academic and techno pedagogical resource support to literacy program in Madhya Pradesh since its inception. State Resource Centre shall use the Japanese grant of US$76,691 for establishing the Literacy Resource Centre for Girls and Women (LRC).  Upon completion of the construction of LRC building, a number of activities will be undertaken to empower girls and women with tools such as literacy and vocational skills. 

2.         The Signing Ceremony to formalize the arrangements is scheduled to take place at 4:00pm on Thursday, 13^th February 2003, at the Embassy of Japan, between Ambassador Akira Hayashi and the respective representatives of the above NGOs.

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), research institutions, hospitals and local government, 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. Last year, under this scheme, the Government of Japan provided assistance totaling US$3,138,905 (15 Crore Rupees approximately) to 52 diverse projects in different parts of India.

4.         For further information, please contact Mr. Akira Kido, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan. Telephone No.91-11-2687-6581.