Japan gives $350,000 for four grassroots projects

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Japan on Wednesday granted around $350,000 for four grassroots projects in India, including for setting up vocational training classes for children with disabilities in Delhi and for setting up a community health clinic in a Mizoram village.

The signing ceremony for the four projects, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP), was held at the Japanese embassy here.

Takeshi Yagi, the Japanese envoy to India, signed the contracts with the four recipient organisations.

The Japanese government offers financial assistance under the GGP for development projects designed to meet basic human needs in developing countries, said an embassy press release.

Under the Project for the Expansion of Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Delhi, the Japanese government gave $81,664 to NGO Tamanna to support the construction of two vocational training classrooms and a bakery unit for children and youth with disabilities in Vasant Vihar.

Under a second project for construction of an out-patient department for poor patients in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Japan has given $99,457 to Assisi Sister’s St. Joseph’s Dispensary.

Under a project for construction of a shelter home in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, for destitutes and helpless aged people picked up from the streets in Delhi, Japan has given $95,991 to the Saint Hardyal Education and Orphans Welfare Society (SHEOWS) for constructing the shelter.

The SHEOWS runs a shelter home in Delhi and one in Amroha.

The fourth project is for the construction of a community health clinic in Khamrang village in Kolasib district of Mizoram, for which the Japanese government is giving $72,307 to the Mission Foundation Movement.