Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader candidate and Secretary of State for International Development, praised the contribution of the British Hindu community in eradicating global poverty at a conference organised by Hindu Aid on 24th May 2007.

Over 150 Hindu, multi-faith charitable organisations and aid agencies along with representatives from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Development Education Assoction (DEA) attended the conference held at the Swaminarayan Hindu temple set in a tranquil 17 acre site in Stanmore.

Hilary Benn, who was received with a traditional welcome of flower garlands and a tilak mark on his forehead, said: 'The largest portion of international aid from Britain goes to India. The joint effort by our Government and the Government of India has resulted in 5 million poor children attending school since 2003.

Praising the contribution of the British Hindu community, he added, 'India is the third largest investor in the UK and we are the fifth largest investor in India. We are inter-dependent on each other, but what makes our relationship special is our common interest in shared humanity. The British Hindu community express this shared interest through the work of Hindu Aid and through your efforts to connect Hindu organisations in the UK. Through the Hindu Aid Disaster Task Force, you are accepting responsibility for humanity. I look forward to Hindu Aid becoming a great success. It is a chance to make a difference."

He continued to talk about the ‘substantial but quiet contribution’ that British Hindus have been making over the years, stating that it was time to recognise and appreciate the faith inspired contribution. He spoke passionately about the global interdependence exemplified by the climate change and how Hindu Aid's Project DANA could help the next generation to learn about the effects of their choices on the state of the world.

"This is a milestone event for the Hindu community in Britain," commented Arjan Vekaria, Chair of Hindu Aid. "The Hindu community are great givers in charity, but a large part of their work goes unreported. The conference will highlight the invisible aid of British Hindus to the world."

The Conference is the first time the British Hindu community gathered together in the UK to showcase the contribution of British Hindus to international development, poverty alleviation, education and sustainable development.

"By bringing together key stakeholders from Government, the Hindu community, aid agencies and interfaith groups, the Conference enabled us to identify issues of capacity and enable us to engage the Hindu community in global issues in a structured manner," added Ramesh Kallidai, Vice Chair of Hindu Aid.

"The British Hindu business community are one of the most prosperous sections of multicultural Britain, and are extremely generous in donating to worthy causes serving those less fortunate in line with the Hindu values of compassion & benevolence," said Nidhi Dalmia, trustee of Hindu Aid.

The top six richest Asians in the UK are from this hardworking community with many more Hindus featured within the various UK rich lists. This years list shows a practising Hindu in the top three of the ‘Giving index’ with the highest recent donation of more than £500m for education.

Guests at the conference included Gareth Thomas MP Minister of International Development, The Mauritius High Commissioner Abhimanu Kundaswamy, Dr Rami Ranger owner of Sun oil, Kirit Mehta owner of Aastha TV Channel, Dr Nanda Kumar Director of the Bharitya Vidya Bhavan, Mr Hitendra Solanki of Comic Relief, Peter Reichwald of World Jewish Relief and Dr Nigel Varndell of Christian Aid.

[ Download the full speech here ]