Open Forum to address your concerns

Do you have issues, which you believe can be solved through a common approach?

If the answer is ‘Yes,’ you should attend an Open Forum being held at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145 New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland on July 20, 2014.

Organised by the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA), the Forum, open to all, will be held from 230 pm to 4 pm.

Association President Harshad Patel said that the forthcoming meeting is for the wider Indian community to share their concerns and experiences for the common good.

Umbrella body

“The Forum aims to involve all Indian associations and groups to have a link with NZICA, which is the umbrella body of all people of Indian origin (PIO).While associations and groups do their good work, there is need to have a collective approach,” he said.

General Secretary Prakash Biradar suggested that all PIO should enrol themselves in an Indian association or group.

“With more than 155,000 people of Indian ethnicity in New Zealand, the community is a growing force. We should work together to strengthen the bond with India and stand together with a united voice,” he said.

Fighting discrimination

Established in 1926, NZICA has ten full-fledged branches, one Associate Branch, five Associate Members and one Probationary Member.

“The Association has fought vigorously against discrimination and has worked relentlessly, creating a good living environment for Indians in New Zealand. In recent months, we raised the voice of the community against racist comments made by a Wellington based DJ, opposed the Cremation Laws of Auckland Council and represented a number of issues to Ministers (see separate report in this Section). The issues were raised through Indian organisations and the media,” Mr Biradar said.

According to Mr Patel, NZICA has dealt with several other issues including Immigration, Race relations, Discrimination, Human Rights, Health and Welfare, Law and Order, Suppression of White League and political representation.

Our editorial, ‘Indian Association deserves credit and support’ appears under Viewlink.