Lord Raj Loomba granted an award in the Distinguished Non-Resident philanthropist category of the prestigious Forbes India Philanthropy Awards 2012
INDIACSR News Network
NEW DELHI: Lord Raj Loomba CBE, Founder and Chairman Trustee of The UN accredited Loomba Foundation, has been recognized at the prestigious Forbes India Philanthropy Awards 2012, and granted an award in the Distinguished Non-Resident philanthropist category.
The philanthropy awards were instituted by Forbes India to recognize the efforts of individuals who have given time, money, skill and expertise to solve some of the most pressing societal issues, to create model institutions and to inspire others.
The award was set to honor a non-resident Indian who has contributed significantly to a social cause in India, by giving wealth, time and expertise. Lord Loomba was nominated for his efforts in promoting the need for educating the kids of poor widows in India and establishing June 23 as International Widows’ Day by the United Nations.
The Loomba Foundation had been recently granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations during the Council’s July 2012 Substantive Session. “Special Consultative Status” is conferred upon those non-governmental organizations that demonstrate a special competence in a select field of concern.
This designation will allow the Foundation to send official representatives to participate in events and conferences at the United Nations. Previous to the work of The Loomba Foundation, no one had ever identified or addressed more than 700M widows and children who suffer in this way.
A registered charity in the UK, USA and India, The Loomba Foundation is supported by Britain’s former first lady, Cherie Blair, as President, and Sir Richard Branson as Patron-in-Chief. The Foundation has funded the education of over 6500 children of poor widows and has supported 27000 family members in 29 states of India.
During the awards ceremony held in Bangalore recently, Lord Loomba gave a moving speech on the plight of widows, the necessity of the cause and the major steps the foundation has taken to education the children of poor widows. “It is the cause” he reflected why there is just a good following, “There are 245M widows in the world, of which 42M are in India, and 500M children of widows around the world. They suffer in silence, through no fault of their own and it’s just because they have lost their father and their mother has lost a husband.”
Lord Loomba also supports many other social activities, including Barnardos in the UK. Lord Loomba has received many accolades and honours including the Priyadarshni Academy Global Award in 2006 and the NRI Institute of India Achievers Award in 2008, on behalf of The Loomba Foundation which was presented by the British High Commissioner. Lord Loomba was also appointed as Ambassador of Global Partnerships Forum in 2011.
The Loomba Foundation was established by Lord Raj Loomba CBE and his wife Veena in the UK in 1997. It promotes fundamental freedoms and human rights of widows and their children around the world, raising awareness of the gross injustices widows face and seeking to remove stigmas associated with widowhood.
The Loomba Foundation declared 23rd June as International Widows Day at the House of Lords in May, 2005. The Foundation also published a comprehensive Research Study on widows worldwide and the first edition of was presented to the UN Secretary General, HE Ban Ki Moon on 22nd June, 2010 followed by presentations to the President of India and the US Secretary of State. The Foundation collaborates with UN bodies, other NGOs, government officials, human rights advocates and prominent leaders to fight for the over 245 million widows worldwide who suffer prejudice and discrimination.
The Loomba Foundation seeks to bring about gender sensitive reform of national laws and policies, eradicating anti-widow superstitions, traditions, and social practices. It fosters gender equality and women’s empowerment by implementing poverty-reduction strategies and educational opportunities for widow’s and their children.
