$3.5 million funding announced for Indian community projects in Victoria

The Victorian government has announced $3.5 million to fund 13 infrastructure projects proposed by the Indian community. As a result, several religious and community centres will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars, both in Melbourne and in regional Victoria.

The Victorian government has announced $3.5 million to fund 13 infrastructure projects proposed by the Indian community. Source: vic.gov.au

To support the development of Victoria's diverse communities, the state government has announced funding for 36 projects to benefit various multicultural communities. Of this, $3.5 million will be shared amongst 13 infrastructure projects proposed by the Indian community right across the state.

The money will be used for building, renovation, extension and refurbishment projects at mandirs, gurudwaras and Indian community centres, and will be funded through the Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund and the Indian Community Infrastructure Fund.

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Highlights:

• 13 infrastructure projects to share $2.4 million through the Indian Community Infrastructure Fund.
  
  
• Mandirs, gurudwaras and Indian community groups in metropolitan and regional Victoria among the 13 beneficiaries.
• $1.1 million to support 23 multicultural groups to upgrade their community facilities.

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Out of $3.5 million announced, the amount of $1.1 million will support 23 multicultural groups to upgrade their community facilities, with more than half based in regional Victoria.

A further $2.4 million will support 13 different organisations for their infrastructure projects as part of  Indian Community Infrastructure Fund. The funds will be used by these organisations for the refurbishment, construction, renovation or maintenance of their facility.

Some of the organisations receiving funding for upgrades include:

• Albury Wodonga Indian Cultural Centre Ltd (for a new Indian community center in Wodonga)
• Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (to upgrade safety and facilitate better access)
• Sri Durga Arts Cultural and Education Centre Inc. (for a kitchen extension and children's playground)

Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, Officer Source: Supplied

Harpreet Singh a volunteer at Siri Guru Nanak Darbar gurudwara told SBS Punjabi, “We applied for the funds so that we could renovate and add more facilities to the gurudwara and the Victorian government supported us with the approval of $285,000 as a part of 3.5 million funding announced for Indian community projects in Victoria,"

“We are very thankful to the Victorian government as these funds will help us to support the upgrades to the gurudwara to facilitate security, construction of a car park and to buy storage containers,” he added

Here is a complete list of the organisations receiving the Indian Community Infrastructure Fund.

A further $2.4 million will go towards 13 infrastructure projects as Indian Community Infrastructure Fund Source: vic.gov.au

In the current times where coronavirus has affected almost every job sector, "these funds will help to create new jobs by helping in building, repairing, maintaining, and improving the facilities where multicultural communities gather so everyone feels connected to their cultural heritage in places that are safe, modern and inclusive."

Victoria is a proudly multicultural stateand this success is built on the celebration of our diversity

In a statement Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence said, “

 “Victoria is a proudly multicultural state and this success is built on the celebration of our diversity.”

“We know how important it is for multicultural Victorians to have a space to call their own – and that’s as important now as ever.”

“While current restrictions mean we can’t gather in person right now, this funding will help create safe spaces for community members to come together in a COVID-safe way, once we reach the other side,” she added

Sri Durga Temple, Rockbank Source: Facebook

Neeraj Kalia, secretary at Sri Durga arts/cultural and educational center Inc. told SBS Punjabi, “every week we see a big growth in the number of devotees coming to the temple and to easily accommodate all the devotees during bhandara we needed a bigger kitchen area."

"We are very grateful to the Victorian government for this approval of the funds as it was much needed and urgent to support us to add these extensions to the facility”

“These funds will also support us to build a playground in the facility for kids as suggested by a large number of young devotees and the community,” he added.

Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8 pm and 5 am.

The only reasons for Melbourne residents to leave home during these hours are for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative.  

The full list of restrictions can be found here.  

All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live. People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. 

If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus