The main objective of the fair, which will be on from May 15-23, 1999, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, is to showcase the social development and community welfare initiatives of the government, multilateral agencies, non-governmental organisations and the corporate sector, according to a spokesperson of the ITPO, who does not want to be identified.

The diverse profiles of the participants helps to bring under a single umbrella the multiple issues of social and community development such as empowerment of women, gender equality, health concerns, including reproductive and child health, literacy, poverty alleviation, local self-government and rural development, street and working children, populations and development, HIV and AIDS, drugs and narcotics, andenvironmental issues, explains the spokesperson.

Apart from highlighting the role of responsible organisations in these spheres, the thrust will be to elicit social commitment from the uninitiated. The spokesperson emphasises that the fair will also strive to increase public awareness through interaction and deliberation between various participants, who will disseminate information, share experiences, and search for innovative methods.

Besides, there will be thematic, organisational and commercial displays. The thematic displays will be on health and family welfare, adult education, reproductive health and gender issues, working and street children, the girl child, rural welfare and panchayats, urbanisation and community development, environment and development, drug control, AIDS and HIV.Organisational displays will include projection of field of work, achievements, targets, aims and objectives. Commercial displays will include items produced by NGOs, educational products, goods and services forcommunity development, environmental projects/services, and social development projects. The displays will help the fair to serve as a showcase for the next year's exhibition.