Commander of the British Empire award for Raj Loomba

Leading NRI entrepreneur Raj Loomba received the 'Commander of the British Empire' award from Prince Charles in recognition of his charity work at a colourful ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London.

"It is wonderful that you are looking after widows and education of their children," Charles told him, hailing the work of the Loomba Trust, which works in India, Uganda, Kenya, and Syria among other countries.

Loomba pointed out that his trust was also doing charity work with 'Youth Business International' supported by the Prince.

Raj Loomba is a tireless campaigner for improving the plight of widows and their children in India, Uganda, Kenya, Syria, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Columbia. In India 4,000 children of widows are being educated by the Trust, which raises funds through charity.

A dinner hosted by Veena Loomba, wife of Raj following the award ceremony, was attended among others by Lord Navnit Dholakia, Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and Tony Baldry, Former Tory Minister in Thatcher's government.

Veena and Raj Loomba jointly founded the Loomba Trust, of which Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is the president.