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LABOUR'S VISION FOR INDIA
ritain's re-elected Labour government wishes to increase its economic, cultural and diplomatic ties with India as it develops into a global player, according to Stephen Pound, a Member of Parliament and Chairman of Labour Friends of India. The MP said this in a speech to the Friends at the House of Commons on 25 May 2005, just two weeks after Tony Blair's government had been confirmed in office for a third consecutive term, an historic 'first' for the Labour Party. Mr. Pound hailed the victory as an opportunity to build on and extend Anglo-Indian ties cemented over the past eight years of Labour rule. He congratulated both the British and Indian governments on the Joint Declaration signed in 2004, and announced that Labour Friends of India would be focusing on five key issues highlighted in that document: the UN Security Council reform, trading links, the environment, security and economic growth.
On the UN Security Council (UNSC), Mr. Pound called not only for a seat on the Council for India, but for its representative to have the right of veto. Anything less, he argued, would be mere 'gesture politics'. We want, he said, "a fundamental change that gives a sixth of this world's humanity a real possibility of influencing international relations." In the area of trade, he paid tribute to the advancement of Indian companies into many areas of the British economy. His examples included Tetley Tea, owned by Tata, software and call centres operated by companies like NIIT and Satyam, and financial services provided by ICICI Bank. While British companies such as P&O, BT and British Gas are taking advantage of Indian opportunities, there is still much to be done. British firms could follow the example of their US counterparts, which have shown greater imagination and flexibility in forging relations with India. Mr. Pound welcomed the formation of 'The India Group', a private sector alliance made up of India's largest companies and headed by Sonjoy Chatterji of ICICI Bank.
Mr. Pound applauded the role of India in ratifying the Kyoto protocol on climate change, a treaty which Britain's Labour government strongly supports - in direct contrast to the Bush Administration. He linked the campaigns to preserve biodiversity and conserve water with the movement to lift millions of Indians out of poverty, and also called for greater cooperation between the governments,
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businesses and civic organisations of both countries on the promotion of 'greener technologies'. Mr. Pound congratulated India and Pakistan on recent negotiations over Kashmir during the cricket series last year, and called for an 'open skies policy' in trading relationships, removing barriers to trade and promoting cultural ties. He called for Labour's third term to "be used to develop ties based on mutual respect, shared benefit and prosperity for all."
Stephen Pound's speech comes a month after the first celebration of Ramnaumi at the House of Commons, the Hindu festival marking the birth of Shri Ram. Parliamentarians of all parties attended a testimony to the growing strength of Anglo-Indian relations.⚫
AIDAN RANKIN
Stephen Pound, Chairman of Labour Friends of India with the Prime Minister of India, Manmoham Singh..
picture supplied by Steven Pound
SEEING IS BELIEVING Y
You cannot put a price on the value of sight, but once eyes need medical treatment and numbers are thrown into the equation, it can become only the rich who can pay for it. Even simple eye care can prove to be way beyond the reach of those less fortunate.
This is an everyday reality in Thika, Kenya. To remedy the crisis, members of the Oshwal community set up the first Shah Free Eye Clinic at the Thika Mangu High School in 1980. The camp was a huge success and the Oshwals have tried to recreate it every year ever since, under the banner of the Shree Jain Youth League. In order
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to raise more funds, life membership scheme was introduced in 1985, of Ksh 5,000/US$ 65. At present there are 400 members, adding up to pledges for camps up to the year 2010.
Initially, operations were only done on eye ailments of cataracts, entripian, glaucoma and chalazion or squints but as the screening increased, patients in need of spectacles also increased. During the 12th camp the facility of eye refraction was introduced and reading glasses were dispensed. The other most common complaints were ear, nose and throat problems so with their ever expanding needs they became the Shah Free Eye and E.N.T. Camp.
This year, from 2-9 April, the team comprised of local medics, doctors, eye and E.N.T. surgeons, optometrists and a pharmacist from the UK. Not wanting to restrict themselves, a team of doctors also checked the surrounding area for people in need of help! Three of them flew to Kisumu to screen patients and another team went by road to Kitui South and another to Migwami to do the same. Patients who required surgery were brought to the camp. The organisers provide transport and accommodation to the patients free of any charge. The kitchen offered three hot meals every day to over 500 people. A total of about 100 people are employed temporarily.
The entire camp is run on voluntary services. Everybody is involved in the activities of the camp: doctors, pharmacists, theatre nurses looking after the out-patients or in the kitchen. On average, in every camp they screen 15,000 patients and operate upon 600 of them. To date they have screened over 250,000 patients, operated on over 13,000, issued 55,000 spectacles and 175 hearing aids.
The Shree Jain Youth League would like to express their gratitude to all the past chairmen, committee members, doctors, volunteers and all those who have contributed towards the growth and success of the league. It is through their guidance, foresight and hard work that a mammoth humanitarian and noble project continues to take place.
To volunteer or simply to see the Shah Free Eye and E.N.T. Camp work towards eradicating preventable and curable blindness and deafness in Kenya, you can contact: Jitain Shah-jitain@colour-international.com Rajan Shah-windsorflowers@africaonline.co.ke
VANDENY
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