Ministry of Women and Child DevelopmentSubject: - Organisations in the field of Women and Child Development General Grant-in-aid (GIA) Scheme for Assistance to Voluntary  The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Scheme called the General Grant-in-Aid Scheme, also called Scheme for innovative projects for women and children. The objective of the Scheme is to support innovative voluntary action and initiatives to render services for women and children. This Scheme is meant to supplement the existing schemes of the Ministry and of the Central Social Welfare Board and not to duplicate them. Financial assistance is  provided for services that are not covered by the structured schemes of the Ministry or CSWB Projects falling under the following categories may be supported under the Scheme:-a) Project that suggests a new approach to tackle a pressing social problem.b) Project which fills essential gaps in existing services and complements them  to as to maximise the impact.c) Project to tackle a problem area which is relatively unserviced but where need is urgent.d) Project which provides integrated services, all the components need not be financially supported by one source.e) Project which is community based and renders non-institutional services.  Where the nature of the problem so demands, institutional programmes will also be supported. Pilot projects in any of the above areas will also be supported. Financial  assistance will be provided to establish the innovative project over the project cycle, and will not be extended on a continuing basis as a matter of course. Financial assistance is given up to 90% of the approved cost on recurring and non-recurring expenditure and the balance of 10% is to be met by the voluntary agency or any other organisation, but preferable by the voluntary organisation itself. In the case of an organisation located in remote, backward and tribal areas, the Government may bear 95% of the approved cost. The extent of financial assistance is decided on merit on a case to case basis by the Project Sanctioning committee under the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development. Interested organisations, with experience of at least 2 years, can apply  through the State Govt/UT Admn. The application form and details of the Scheme may be downloaded from the website of the Ministry (www.wcd.nic.in).