Cherie Blair lauds Indian NGOs' work on AIDS

"AIDS is a problem not only in India but all over the world. But AIDS in India, as anywhere else hits the hardest the most deprived section of the society," she said while speaking at a 'World AIDS Day event for India' organised by Thare Machi Education and the Cobra Foundation in London on Thursday night.

Blair, herself President of the Loomba Trust which educates thousands of children of widows in India, described Helen Taylor Thompson OBE, founder of the Star Fish Initiative - subsequently renamed as Thare Machi Education - as a "visionary" and said her work had a real impact in India.

Lord Karan Bilimoria, NRI entrepreneur said while India was emerging as a "super power", the country still had more than 300 million people living below the poverty line with less than a dollar to spend per day. According to a rough estimate there are about 6 million AID victims in India, he said.

He also presented a cheque for an undisclosed amount, to Mrs Thompson for her trust.

82-year old Thompson said over 40 million people are infected with AIDS worldwide and it could be tackled only if people united to fight against the scourge.

The organisers also demonstrated a kit brought out by Thare Machi Foundation for the innovative use of technology for creating AIDS awareness among the people and preventing the dreaded disease.