Some prominent Hindu organisations of America, including the World Hindu Council of America, Hindu American Foundation (HAF), United States Sindhi Alliance, have donated twenty five military grade tents to Pakistani Hindu refugees based in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in India. The tents were donated as a part of nationwide project in USA coordinated by an alliance of various Hindu organisations under project ‘Pakistani Hindu Refugee Relief’.
These Hindu refugees have recently arrived from Pakistan after facing grave human rights violation. With situation in Pakistan become inhabitable for Hindus in Pakistan, more refugees are arriving in India on religious visas. Many of the refugees claim that they are subject to discrimination in Pakistan and are subject to various human rights violations like freedom of work, speech, religion and reside. In late 2012, a total of two hundred and forty refugees arrived from Pakistan’s Sindh province, recently around 500-700 refugees arrived from Pakistan comprising mainly women and children.
In the past, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) organised a medical camp in Jodhpur. Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America donated groceries and tents with nationwide donors coming forward to help Hindu refugees. Hindu Congress of America also wrote to district administration to provide a safe place to reside and donated tents. Efforts towards this cause have paid fruits with Jodhpur district administration providing a municipal shelter for earlier group.
This international relief project is being coordinated at local level with strategic assistance from office bearers and volunteers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal and activists from Hindu Help Line. VHP has presence in more than 80,000 cities and villages in India with infrastructure and support supply chain that greatly helps in coordinating international relief efforts in any part of India. Various regional units of VHP are already providing moral support, daily sustenance need, legal and social support and relief to existing Pakistani Hindu Refugees in India in their respective capacities.
Hindu organisations in America requested the Government of India to provide immediate citizenship and assistance in terms of land allotment, temporary work permits and BPL cards to the Pakistani Hindu refugees who wish to settle in India. These refugees travelled a long way from Pakistan to escape severe human rights violations. It’s a moral and ethical duty of various state and central government to provide assistance to our Hindu brothers and sisters. Hindu organisations in America also requested India-based social and philanthropist organisations to come forward and help these refugees whatever capacity possible.
In 1947 and 1975 also millions of refugees arrived in India from Pakistan and Bangladesh, many are settled now as Indian citizens, hopefully these refugees will also one day contribute towards the growth of India. It’s in this current phase they need your help. In past MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and local administration has provided assistance and US based Hindu organisations appreciated that.
Many Hindu organisations in USA are also protesting at Pakistani Consulates and demanding immediate relief to Hindus in Pakistan.
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