News
Bollywood diva Kajol commemorates industry stalwarts at
The Loomba Foundation’s annual charity dinner
Power Grid Corporation of India, National Buildings Construction Corporation, Jindal Power among several others vow to support ‘Educate a Widow’s Child in India’ campaign
New Delhi, 10th December, 2011: Bollywood superstar and international goodwill ambassador for The Loomba Foundation, Kajol, along with Founder and Chairman Trustee, Lord Raj Loomba CBE, was in the capital today to give away mementos and certificates of appreciation to leading industry stalwarts who have come forward to benevolently support the cause of educating children of poor widows in India. The Loomba Foundation, which is accredited by the United Nations, has funded the education of over 6500 children of poor widows and has supported 27000 family members in 29 states of India since 1999. In 2012, the Foundation will provide education to another 3000 children of widows in distress.
Key supporters whose contributions were appreciated by the Foundation:
Shri R.N. Nayak, Chairman and Managing Director, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. received the certificate on behalf the company for having pledged to support the education of 300 children of poor widows.
Shri V.P. Das, Chairman and Managing Director of National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd. received the citation for NBCC sponsoring education of another 300 children of poor widows in India for five years.
Dr. R.P. Singh, Executive Vice Chairman of Jindal Power Limited was felicitated with a certificate of appreciation for sponsoring education for 200 children of poor Indian widows in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
The felicitation ceremony was followed by inauguration of The Loomba Foundation’s Annual Charity Dinner by its President, Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, which is being sponsored by BNP Paribas Bank as the lead sponsor.
Addressing the audience, Lord Raj Loomba CBE, expressed his happiness with the success of this year’s Annual Charity Dinner, and said, “I am overwhelmed to see so many high profile industry leaders coming forward to support us in this noble cause tonight. All proceeds will be used for the education of children of poor widows in India.”
Lord Loomba added “While India has special privileges for women in general, there is a grave need to recognize the plight of the widows who are fraught with double the burden of supporting themselves as well as their children without any external support. When a woman loses her husband she loses her place in society. Widows are often ostracized by the society and are unable to remarry, poor, uneducated, and unable to find a decent job. Children of widows often end up on streets or work in factories where child-labour abuse is a commonplace.”
Over 200 high-profile guests attended the charity dinner including ministers, senior politicians, Members of Parliament, high commissioners, bureaucrats and business leaders. Some of the guests at the dinner included delegates from Tata Consultancy, Max India Foundation, Central Bank of India, Taj Hotels, Micromax Mobile, Herbert Smith LLP, and Rotary Blood Bank. Harjiv Singh, Trustee of The Loomba Foundation, and co-founder and co-CEO of Gutenberg Communications, gave away the vote of thanks.
BNP Paribas Bank are lead sponsors of the Annual Charity Dinner at the Taj Mahal in Delhi- http://www.bnpparibas.com/en
London, Friday 18th November 2011: The Loomba Foundation held its ‘Educate a Widows Child in India’ Annual Charity Dinner at the Savoy in London on Friday the 18th of November, 2011. It was truly a memorable evening which was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Nick Clegg MP as Chief Guest. The Guests of Honour included the acting High Commissioner of India, H.E Rajesh N. Prasad, the First Lady of the Republic of Gabon, Madam Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, Rt. Hon. Dr. Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Mrs. Cherie Blair, President of the Loomba Foundation. The Foundation’s International Ambassadors, famous Bollywood Actors, Kajol and Ajay Devgn supported the charity at the event.
The Loomba Foundation was honoured to receive a generous donation of £50,000 from the First Lady of Gabon, Madam Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and the leading entrepreneurs, S.P Hinduja and G.P Hinduja, pledged funds for the education of 500 children of poor widows in India, for a period of five years.
Lord Raj Loomba, Founder and Chairman Trutstee of the Loomba Foundation, announcing these donations at the event said ‘We are very much indebted to the Hinduja Group and the First Lady of Gabon, Madam Sylvia Bongo Ondimba for their generous donations’.
Speaking at the occasion, Cherie Blair, President of the Loomba Foundation, informed guests that the Foundation, which was established in UK in 1997, had so far educated 6,221 children of poor widows in India and supported 27,000 family members. Many of the students have already completed their studies after receiving scholarship for a period of five years or more. She added that the Foundation is currently educating 2,150 beneficiaries in 14 states in India.
She continued “The issue of widowhood has remained unidentified and undressed until the recent research study revealed that there are over 245 million widows and 500 million of their children worldwide. We are proud that through our tireless campaign the United Nations declared June 23 as International Widows’ Day last year”.
Addressing the gathering, India’s acting High Commissioner H.E Rajesh Prasad said, “Advancement of the weaker sections including widows and their children is one of the top priorities of the Indian Government “.
Superstar Bollywood Actress Kajol Devgn said, “The plight of widows is unthinkable and without financial means, it is even more scary. Education is the only way forward”.Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister said, “I am delighted to be here with you and my ongoing commitment to education as a way out of poverty is one of the many reasons I support the excellent work of the Loomba Foundation”.
Entertainment on the night included a dazzling performance by 100 school children, who performed and danced to the popular track Jai Ho.
The Foundation raised over £300, 000 at the event through the generosity of its sponsors and the fundraising activities on the night. In his speech Lord Raj Loomba thanked all the sponsors and guests, giving a special thank you to Barclays Bank PLC who were the lead sponsors of the event.
The first UN recognised International Widows Day conference will take place at the United Nations in New York on 23rd June 2011.
The Loomba Foundation is joining hands with Yoko Ono to mark the first UN recognised International Widows Day at the United Nations in New York on 23 June, 2011. International Widows Day was launched by the Loomba Foundation at the House of Lords in London in 2005 initially, who campaigned for the UN recognition of International Widows Day.
On the eve of International Widows Day, Yoko Ono will display a light show - ‘My Mommy is Beautiful’ and Reeta Sarkar, a Founder Trustee of the Loomba Foundation, will exhibit 17 of her oil and acrylic paintings at the United Nations, which will remain on display until 12th July, 2011.
At a press conference at the United Nations, Yoko Ono will release Reeta’s art book - A Hidden Calamity: The Plight of Widows. The book includes Reeta’s oils and acrylics paintings on three Themes – South Asia, Africa and Conflict, depicting the plight of widows around the world.
Lord Loomba, Founder and Chairman Trustee of the Loomba Foundation and Mrs. Cherie Blair, President of the Loomba Foundation will host a cocktail reception at Le Cirque, in honour of the First Lady of the Gabonese Republic, Ms Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and Dr. Michelle Bachelet, Director General UN Women.
The Government of Gabon and the UN Women will host a widows conference at the United Nations to commemorate the first UN International Widows Day on 23rd June, 2011. The conference will be addressed by the First Lady of Gabon Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and Dr. Michelle Bachelet. Journalist Christiane Amanpour of ABC will moderate the conference which will include two panel discussions. Participants will include Lord Loomba, Cherie Blair, Amir Dossal and Ban Soon Taek
The conference will be followed by a lunch, which will be hosted by the First Lady of Gabon, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel. Mrs. Cherie Blair and Lord Loomba are invited as Honored Guests.
PROGRAMME:
Day: Wednesday 22nd June - Eve of International Widows Day
Title: (a) Art Exhibition (b) Book Launch (c) Mommy is Beautiful
Time: 5.00p.m. – 6.00p.m.
Location: The United Nations, New York
Date: Wednesday 22nd June
Title: Cocktail Party
Time: 6.30p.m. – 8.30p.m.
Location: Le Cirque Restaurant, New York.
Thursday: 23rd June 2011
Title: First United Nations International Widows Day Conference
Time: 10.00a.m. – 12.00p.m.
Location: The United Nations, Conference Room 2
Date: Thursday 23rd June
Title: Luncheon
Time: 1.00p.m. – 2.30p.m.
Location: The Millennium UN Plaza Hotel
Raj Loomba CBE, Founder Chairman of the Loomba Foundation, was invested as a Liberal Democrat Peer in the House of Lords on 17 January, becoming Baron Loomba of Moor Park. “I am very honoured to receive a life peerage,” he said. “It will help me raise awareness on a different platform, highlighting the problems of widows across the world and working on development aid programmes so that real help goes to the people who need it.” Lord Loomba made his Maiden Speech in the House of Lords on Friday 22nd January.
Read more by clicking on the Press Release below.
Press Release – Lord Loomba’s Maiden Speech.
Please see below press articles from both Asian Voice and India Link International in respect of Lord Loomba CBE.
