The Bombay Stock Exchange has announced its support for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Loomba Foundation, in the latter's efforts to empower poor widows in India.
"I am sure that our contributions can make a significant impact on the lives of widows and children, giving them an opportunity to secure a better future," BSE chairman S. Ramadorai said during a conference hosted by the stock exchange titled 'Corporate Social Responsibility: Empowering Poor Widows in India', which encouraged corporations across the nation to channelize their corporate social responsibility (CSR) provision in the Companies Act for the benefit of impoverished widows.
Loomba Foundation founder and chairman trustee Lord Raj Loomba, who was present at the conference, talked of his NGO's plans for raising money for the charity.
"Our foundation has held several events to create global awareness on the plight and unmet needs of the widows... Our goodwill ambassador Chris Parsons has already raised over 10 percent of his targeted USD one million for empowering poor widows in India," he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was also present for the event, said that his government was determined to empower the destitute, widows and single women.
"My government is committed to improve socio-economic status of those who are downtrodden and poor. We are planning to roll out development initiatives for empowering destitute, widows, and single women by setting up support centres. I am sure, with the help social organizations and institutions we will take up this challenge of building social infrastructure," he said.
The UN-accredited Loomba Foundation, established in 1997, 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.