CHENNAI: Four non-governmental organisations in South India have received grants from the Japanese Government for projects to uplift the disadvantaged.

The NGOs are the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai, HelpAge India, Chennai, Mitra Jyothi, Bangalore, and Dale View, Thiruvananthapuram.

A function for the exchange of the grant contract and release of cheques was held at the official residence of the Consul-General of Japan here on Friday.

The MSSRF received $87,812 for a project to build a facilitation centre in Kerala's Wyanad district, where it has set in motion a number of initiatives for natural resource management, improvement of the livelihood of tribal farmers and bio-diversity conservation.

The HelpAge India will buy vehicles, furniture and equipment for the organisation's regional offices in four southern States to enhance its mobile medicare services and provide counselling to and rehabilitation of elders with the assistance of $69,273.

With a grant of $88,417, Mitra Jyothi will construct residential and dining facilities at its training centre in Bangalore. Dale View, which runs a de-addiction centre, would upgrade its hospital, besides purchasing an ambulance, with a grant of $89, 775.

Consul-General of Japan in Chennai Yoshiaki Kodaki said partnership with local organisations would help to address the needs in health care, education and skill training through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects, a programme the Government of Japan launched in 1989 to uplift the lives of the people at the grass roots. "I hope this signing ceremony will mark the renewal of our existing partnership with some of the NGOs and the beginning of a new one with others," the Consul-General said.

Indrani Rajdurai, director, Southern Region, Helpage India, Chennai; Madhu Singhal, managing trustee, Mitra Jyothi, Bangalore; M. Velayutham, executive director, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai; and C. Christudas, director, Dale View, Thiruvananthapuram, took part in the function.

Sakura Ozaki, Vice-Consul, Consulate-General of Japan, Chennai, and R.S. Shanthakumar Hopper, Senior Development Consultant-GCP spoke on the occasion.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail