PA/54/09 4 December 2009
Oz Haat Mela at the Australian High Commission to support NGOs
Community organizations from across India will display their wares at the Oz Haat mela at the Australian High Commission on Saturday, 5 December. The mela is open to the public and will take place on the front lawns of the Australian High Commission grounds. Entry is free.
The mela will be inaugurated by the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter Varghese. More than 50 vendors will participate in Oz Haat 2009. Products available for purchase will include handicrafts, toys, books and magazines. There will be food and coffee stalls, a cake stall with delicious home made goods, and a special Christmas decoration display.
Speaking about the mela, Varghese said, “Oz Haat is an opportunity to showcase the achievements of India’s NGO community, and support the important work they are doing across India. I am pleased to see that so many NGOs from across the country are enthusiastically taking part in Oz Haat”.
Varghese will also announce an increase in budget for the Australian High Commission’s Direct Aid Program (DAP). “This year we will distribute one crore rupees (A$250,000). This is a fifty per cent increase since last year.”
DAP funds grassroots development programs in a range of areas, including education, health, income generation and the environment. There is a particular focus on the needs of women and children, and other disadvantaged groups.
In 2009, DAP has funded Delhi-based NGO ASHA to continue their work educating slum children. Funds have also supported the he Mumbai arm of the Salaam Balaak Trust. Many of the stall holders at the mela have received DAP funding in the past.
Oz Haat will be held on Saturday, 5 December 2009 from 10 am to 5 pm at the front lawns of the Australian High Commission at 1/50 G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. NGOs are not charged to participate and proceeds of all sales go directly to the respective community groups. Entry is open to the public.
Information on applying for a DAP grant is available at: http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/DAP.html
For further information, please contact Mr Shekhar Nambiar, Senior Public Affairs Adviser on (0) 98101 54167 .