Hindu council pledges more charity

By Joe Ombuor

The Hindu community says it will do more to assist the poor.

Hindu Council of Kenya officials led by chairman Vanraj Sarvaiya said as a patriotic community, they would strive to improve Kenyans’ welfare.

"We are in the social arena where our activities include poverty alleviation programmes such as paying fees for deserving cases, contributing towards famine relief, supporting charitable organisations and extending medical facilities to those who cannot afford them," said Mr Sarvaiya.

Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Strategist Paul Melly (second left) and Group Chief Operating Officer Sarvjeet Channa (right) met the Hindu Council of Kenya Chairman Vanraj Sarvaiya (left), and his vice Satuinder Singh when they visited the Group’s offices on Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Tuesday. [PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE/STANDARD]

He said doctors from India had been invited to provide free treatment at medical camps in the next two weeks. Sarvaiya spoke when the council paid a call on Standard Group Vice-Chairman and Chief Strategist Paul Melly yesterday at the Group’s offices on Mombasa Road, Nairobi. Mr Melly asked them to share their entrepreneurial skills with others.

He advised Kenyans to stop viewing education as a window for scarce white-collar jobs, but a springboard to self-employment and entrepreneurship. "Let us use education to help create more jobs by engaging in business ventures," said Melly.

Sarvaiya said unemployment and corruption were the greatest challenges to prosperity, and urged Kenyans to help tackle them.

Move forward

"We in the Hindu Council are determined to surmount these and other challenges with resolve and resource, and pray that other Kenyans do likewise to move our country forward," he said.

Others present were the Hindu Council General Secretary Rashmin Chitnis and Director of Public Relations Satunder Singh Sian.

The Standard Group Chief Operating Officer Sarvjeet Channa and Group Chief Editor and Assistant Director John Bundotich also attended.