UK hails contributions of British Hindus

The British government has come out in full praise of the contributions made to English society by British Hindus and charity organisations run by them.

"Hinduism believes in the dictum -- one in all and all in one -- and you do things which are in the larger interest of humanity," Hilary Benn, secretary of state for International Development and Labour's deputy leader candidate said while addressing a conference organised by Hindu Aid at the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in Stanmore in London on Thursday evening.

Hindu Aid is a charity dedicated to eradication of global poverty. Delivering the keynote address at the conference, Benn quoted from Bhagvad Gita saying, "You do your duty without expecting any reward."

He said his Department for International Development was also committed to aid a number of projects, including some in India for providing clean drinking water to children, their enrolment in primary schools in rural areas and poverty alleviation.

Though India is projected to emerge as the fourth largest economy in the world in the next few decades, it still faced the daunting task of lifting about 300 million people above poverty line, the Labour leader said.

Britain, he said, contributed nearly a quarter billion pounds to India last year to undertake poverty alleviation programmes in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal.

Describing climate change as a serious global concern, which requires immediate attention, the official said, "Otherwise in the next couple of years the developments in China will have their fallouts in Britain."

The conference was attended by over 150 Hindu, multi-faith and charitable organisations along with representatives from the Development Education Association and Department for International Development.

Guest of Honour Gareth Thomas, who is Parliamentary under secretary of state, lauded Project Development Awareness Networking Agenda launched by Hindu Aid to encourage British Hindus to explore global issues and find out their impact on everyday lives.

The MP said the Department for International Development recognised that the Millennium Development Goals have a crucial part to play in reducing poverty.

"As a result, DFID has made them the main focus of all of its work," he said and commended Hindu AID for adopting those goals.

Arjan Vekaria, chair of Hindu Aid, described the conference as a "milestone event for the Hindu community in Britain."

The event was the first of its kind organised by British Hindus to showcase the contribution of their community to international development, poverty alleviation, education and sustainable development.