New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Auto-rickshaws painted by well-known artists will be auctioned at the upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), with the proceeds going to NGO Khushii that works for the upliftment of the poor and destitute in both rural and urban areas.

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) that organises WIFW has joined hands with Khushii - Kinship for humanitarian, social and holistic intervention in India - to raise funds for its global development initiative, the World Action Forum.

FDCI pesident Sunil Sethi said: 'As a non-profit organization, we at FDCI always felt it's our mandate to work towards the upliftment of the communities we reside in and help the underprivileged realize their dreams. We see the same commitment in Khushii's World Action Forum Initiative (WAF) to empower and develop sustainable livelihoods.'

'The 15th edition Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week will be an ideal platform to introduce this initiative to create awareness within the fashion fraternity,' he added.

'Our partnership with FDCI is a major step for cohesive working towards India Development under the aegis of World Action Forum,' Khushii general secretary Harveen Kapoor said.

Designer Leena Singh said: 'Being a board member of FDCI for many years and now being on the board of Khushii, there cannot be a happier and more proud moment for me when, with the support of Mr. Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI, I have been successful in putting both the bodies together for the betterment & upliftment of the other India.'

The limited edition auto-rickshaws will be formally unveiled on the opening day of WIFW March 24. The auction will take place the same evening.

The artists participating in the initiative are Dilip Sharma, Farhad Hussain, George Martin, Hindol Brahmbhatt, Jaishree Burman, Jagannath Panda, Paresh Maity, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Satish Gupta, Sudhanshu Sutar, Yusuf Arakkal and Nitin Bal Chauhan.