Date:24/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012417840700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More grant for NGOs to work in rural areas: Minister

Special Correspondent

70% of them in development sector are based in cities

COMMENDATION: Social Welfare Minister Poongothai handing over a certificate to a physically challenged child at the Abilities Expo 2007 in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo : M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: The State Government will provide more grants to non-governmental organisations willing to work in rural areas, Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said on Tuesday.

Currently, 70 per cent of the voluntary organisations working in the development sector are based in cities. With very few NGOs opting to work in rural areas, the poor in those areas could not derive the benefit from several schemes implemented by these organisations. The Minister urged more organisations to work in rural areas, promising them good funding.

She was participating in a function to honour differently abled children who performed during Abilities Expo 2007, organised by Aikya and Lions Club International at Valluvar Kottam. The two-day event drew over 100 participants who put up stalls, engaged in discussions, performed cultural shows and posed questions to medical and legal experts, said Parvathy Viswanath, director, Aikya, an NGO.