1. The Embassy of Japan in India, under its scheme “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects”, today decided to extend grant assistance totaling US$336,821 (approximately equivalent to Rs.1 crore 70 lakh) to four Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to support their respective projects. The NGOs and projects receiving the Grants are as follows:

(i) The Society to Uplift Rural Economy(SURE)

has been working to provide holistic special education for children with visual impairment at Barmer district in Rajasthan, since its establishment in 1990. SURE provides educational services for visually impaired students from class I to XII in such fields as academic and vocational training to achieve vocational independence. As it is faced with growing needs of students, SURE requires a new school building in order to provide effective and sustainable education. To this end, the Embassy of Japan has decided to grant them assistance of US$92,242 for the proposed project.

(ii) Anallon Christian Development Committee

has been working to provide education for the underprivileged and Scheduled Tribes living below the poverty line at Chandel district in Manipur, since its establishment in 1975. The organisation has been running a school, but is now receiving an increasing number of primary school students. In order to provide primary education for more children, the construction of an additional school building is indispensable. To this end, the Embassy of Japan has decided to grant them assistance of US$82,262 for the proposed project.

(iii) Jan Shikshan Kendra

has been working to provide education free of charge to people belonging to Scheduled Castes and children living in the marginalized community at Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, since its establishment in 1995. The organisation has been running a school, but is now receiving an increasing number of primary school students. In order to provide primary education for more children, the construction of an additional school building is indispensable. To this end, the Embassy of Japan has decided to grant them assistance of US$74,253 for the proposed project.

(iv) St.Stephen’s Hospital, Tis Hazari, Delhi

has been working to provide comprehensive health care, particularly to the low-income groups in Delhi, Northern and Western Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, since its establishment in 1885. In these areas, ICU facilities remain overcrowded and several critical patients have to be refused admission due to the shortage of ICU equipments. In view of the growing needs at the ICU section, the organisation has a pressing requirement of Ventilators and Infant Incubators. To this end, the Embassy of Japan has decided to grant them assistance of US$88,064 for the proposed project.

2. The Signing Ceremony to formalize the arrangements had taken place at 15:00 hrs., on Monday, 26th March 2012, at the Embassy of Japan, between H.E. Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Ambassador of Japan to India, and the respective representatives of the above NGOs.