AFTER a lapse of 14 years, the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs’s assistance for community-based organisations has resumed starting in the Western Division this week.
The grants worth $1.5 million will also be distributed in the other divisions.
While handing over the assistance in Lautoka on Wednesday, Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh called on community leaders to ensure the funds were used appropriately.
“Last year we had about $200,000 in our budget to formulate the ministry, but we have a big team now in our head office and offices in Lautoka and Labasa,” Mr Singh said.
“We will be here to assist you and monitor your projects. We don’t want anyone to abuse the funding.
“Whatever is being given out we make sure that our officials will come and meet you and see the projects being undertaken are carried out in a timely manner.”
He said the ministry was looking to make use of the money allocated for grants.
“We want to disburse all of the funds before the end of July.
“If we don’t use the budget now I will have no reason to ask for more funding next year.
“So we have to make sure that the funds are utilised.”
Mr Singh added the ministry officials would be travelling to Levuka and then to the Northern Division to distribute the rest of the allocated $1.5 million grant.
Donald Dutt is a committee member of the Awadhpur Ramayan Faag Mandali of Vatusekiyasawa in Waimali, Rakiraki, one of the grant recipients
He said the more than $9000 given to them would be used to purchase musical instruments.
“We normally would borrow equipment or ask for donations to hire our instruments but now with this money we will be able to buy our own equipment,” Mr Dutt said.
“We are very grateful to the ministry for this assistance.”
