Activity Report 2023-24
During the year the Loomba Foundation continued educating children of poor widows, empowering impoverished widows and advocating for the welfare of widows and single mothers.
Visit of Lord Loomba to Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Memorial School, Dhilwan
On 3rd April, 2023 Lord Raj Loomba CBE visited Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Memorial Govt. Senior Secondary School and School Magazine AGGAZ was released in presence of Loomba Foundations team members and School Principal and teachers. Lord Loomba also had a meeting with officials of School Management Committee regarding the renovation/repair/ purchase of items for the school and announced to donate Rs 15 Lakhs for the welfare and repair/maintenance of school including refurbishment of dining hall for midday meal.
Distribution of Scholarship Cheques in Dhilwan Punjab
On the occasion of International Widows Day, Scholarship Cheques were distributed to 48 meritorious Students of Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Memorial Govt. Senior Secondary School and Govt. Girls Smart High School Dhilwan who secured Ist, 2nd and 3rd Position in Classes VI to XII in Academic Session 2022-23. Further, 20 students of widows were given educational scholarship for the Ist Instalment @Rs.3000/- for the session 2023-24 from April to September 2023.
Total Rs.99,800/- in the form of reward/scholarship to meritorious students and Rs.60,000/- in the form of education scholarship were distributed. The results of all board classes have shown significant improvement as Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Memorial School, Dhilwan have got 100% result in all classes.
23rd June 2023 : India - The Loomba Foundation celebrated International Widows Day
The Loomba Foundation held IWD events in India on 23 June at 11 different places, including Varanasi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Thane, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ludhiana, Dhilwan (Punjab), Jammu, Bangaluru and Ahmedabad to raise awareness of the plight of rural widows in India
Our theme of International Widows Day this year was “Prosperity and Dignity for Widows in rural India”
23rd June 2023 : UK - The Loomba Foundation celebrated International Widows Day
Discrimination against widows has existed for centuries,” India’s solicitor general Mr Tushar Mehta told dinner guests at the UK House of Lords, adding that “as the most populous country, the largest democracy and the fastest-growing economy in the world, India has an important part to play in finding solutions to challenges and creating a sustainable world for everyone.
Mr Mehta was speaking by live video link from Delhi, addressing a banquet hosted by Crossbench Peer Lord Raj Loomba CBE to commemorate International Widows Day, which was simultaneously marked with eleven Loomba Foundation-coordinated events in locations throughout India, as well as by other organisations in UN member states throughout the world.
The Government of India and the UK have both played an important part in supporting the global campaign to end discrimination against widows since it was launched by the Loomba Foundation in 1997.
“This is a deep-rooted problem that cannot be solved by Government alone,” Mr Mehta said. “It requires a cultural change and I am pleased that it is a charity with Indian roots, the Loomba Foundation, that has led the campaign for widows over the last 25 years and persuaded the United Nations to adopt International Widows Day as its own initiative.” He committed the Indian Government “to stay the course so that in future, all widows can be valued members of the community, able to support themselves and lead a life of dignity”.
Former UK First Lady, Lady Cherie Blair, CBE, KC, president of the Loomba Foundation, recounted how Lord Loomba “came up with the idea of an annual, global, day of action when we came to realise that the plight of widows is by no means confined to India but is prevalent all over the world, built into deep-rooted traditions and customs that are hard to shake even with national legislation.” She said that following its adoption by the United Nations in 2011 after a five-year campaign, “the issue is no longer invisible, and slowly but surely the dial is beginning to shift,” adding that “we all have our part to play in completing that task.”
The banquet was also addressed by Mr G P Hinduja, chairman of the Hinduja Group, and by the Indian High Commissioner to London, Mr Vikram Doraiswami.
In his vote of thanks, Loomba Foundation founder and chairman/trustee Lord Raj Loomba CBE noted that the reason International Widows Day had been established was that “we wanted to achieve more than we could alone, and this we can only do through awareness.” He noted that “when we got the unanimous support of the United Nations General Assembly in 2010 it was the culmination of a campaign, but as ever, when we reached the mountain top, it showed the path ahead and the even higher peaks that must be scaled.”
International Widows Day Question for Short Debate in Grand Committee, House of Lords, Thursday 6 July 2023
“Lord Loomba to ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking in response to the United Nations’ International Widows Day and to empower widows to achieve economic independence in the face of continuing discrimination and prejudice affecting their opportunities and life chances as well as those of their dependents.
21st October 2023, New Delhi - Launch of Bharat Widows Empowerment Fund at the resident of British High Commissioner in New Delhi.
A Charity Dinner at the residence of the British High Commissioner in New Delhi was organized on Saturday, 21st October 2023.
HE Alex Ellis British High Commissioner to India welcomed all the guests who attended the dinner. There were around gathering of 250 guests including Mrs. Cherie Blair CBE KC, Lord Raj Loomba CBE, Lady Loomba, Mr. Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, Dr. D. Mulay Member NHRC and other high profile guests.
Mrs. Cherie Blair CBE KC addressed the attendees and talked about the Loomba Foundation, presented a video documentary about the activities of the Foundation. Launched Bharat Widows Empowerment Fund, A flagship initiative of the Loomba Foundation, supporting Sustainable Livelihood Programs through CSR and Philanthropy.
Lady Cherie Blair, the President of the Loomba Foundation present at the Launch, said that India is very dear to him, that is why she is here. I am proud to work for education I am delighted to be here yet again in India. I often joke that I feel I’m an NRI I love India and I’m so proud to be President of the Loomba Foundation. The fantastic work they do here not only in India not only in Asia but around the world to highlight the plight of poor widows and their children.
Mr. Alex Ellis, the Host of Bharat Widows Empowerment Fund initiative, British High Commissioner to India said that this program will strengthen the relationship between the India and Britain stronger. Lord Loomba started the Loomba Foundation in India many years ago, that’s why I am very happy today, to welcome many people in my house because everybody present here is supporting the Bharat Widows Empowerment Fund.
Niti Aayog past CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant told that such an initiative of launch of Bharat Widows Empowerment Fund is appreciable. The Loomba Foundation is doing good work, and I would like to support this initiative of the Loomba Foundation since 70% of widows in India live in villages.
Lord Raj Loomba said that in India there are more than 46 million widows. This is a very big problem in India. One person cannot do all the work for so many women. To empower them, we need help from other people, that’s why we have created a fund.
Lady Loomba speaking on this occasion said I can understand that all women face difficulties in her life but to be a widow is like end of life. It is our duty to help the widows and educate their children. The Loomba Foundation is doing in that direction.
Raashi Sarkar daughter in law of Lord and Lady Loomba while interacting with the media told that it is equally important its cause that is not well known and women’s rights, law at times really press and especially for Widows and its scenario that people don’t really know about so the cause is very important. I am glad that my family and I are doing something and changes taking place.
Mrs. Aruna Oswal speaking on the occasion said that there is need to empower the widows. We should all come forward to educate the children and empower widows to make them self-reliant and lead a life of dignity.
Priyanka Yadav a beneficiary student from Rajasthan while speaking on this occasion said Respected Madam Sherry Blair for encouraging me by coming to Delhi to 10 then I started preparing for RSI court selected in Rajasthan administrative service in December 21 now I’m preparing for Indian administrative service with inspiration of Lord Raj Loomba
In his vote of thanks, the Loomba Foundation’s founder and chairman/trustee Lord Raj Loomba CBE noted that the reason to Launch Bharat Widows Fund was that “we wanted to achieve more than we could alone. He thanked those present for supporting the work of the Foundation.
Prosperity for Widows Project for empowering 5000 widows and their youths in the state of Uttar Pradesh
An initiative of the Loomba Foundation in Partnership with the US India Strategic Partnership Forum for Training in Hospitality, Tourism, Tailoring, Beauty & Healthcare and Food Processing has been started in Uttar Pradesh. The Project is being implemented in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Amethi, Lucknow and Chandauli Districts of Uttar Pradesh. The First phase of the Project has been completed during December 2023. 2500 beneficiaries have been trained and 1934 have been placed.
2nd Phase of the UP Project started in February 2024. 42 new batches have started and 1050 beneficiaries are being trained presently.
Prosperity for Widows Project for empowering 100 widows and their youths in Rohtak, Haryana.
A Project for empowerment of 100 widows in rural areas of Rohtak District was initiated during the last Quarter of 2023 and MOU with Lok Bharti Education Society was signed on 15th Dec, 2023 Skill training has been provided in Hospitality and IT-ITES in Feb/March, 2024.
Prosperity for Widows Project for empowerment of 50 widows and their youths in Ludhiana Punjab.
Project for empowerment of 50 rural widows and their youths in Ludhiana District was initiated during the last Quarter of 2023 and MOU with Lok Bharti Education Society was signed on 15th Dec, 2023. The Skills training in the domain of Hospitality and IT-ITES was started on 1st Feb, 2024 and completed in the month of March, 2024..
07th March, 2024 - Signing of MOU with CIGS Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd (CTIL)
The Loomba Foundation has signed an agreement with CIGS Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a company having its corporate office in Chennai, who is in the business offering ‘Donation as a Service Platform/Trusted Donations Platform, which enables NGOs to raise funds through their Service Platform/Trusted Donations.
13 March, 2024 Dhilwan, Punjab : Visit to Dhilwan School by Mrs. Indu Seth, sister of Lord Loomba together with her husband Mr. Panna Seth.
Mrs. Indu Seth, sister of Lord Loomba together with her husband Mr. Panna Seth visited Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Memorial Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School on 13th March 2024 and had a discussion with Principal and teaching staff of the School.