Venkat Raman –
The earthquakes and aftershocks that rocked the Himalayan State of Nepal in April and May this year have left a long-lasting impact on the Democratic Republic.
According to estimates, the tremors killed more than 8800 men, women and children, injured more than 22,000 people and flattened more than 600,000 homes.
Urgent needs
Millions of people are still in need of food, clean water and adequate shelter. Although residents are working to return to their normal lives, Nepal is still reeling under the disasters that terrorized the country five months ago.
The World Bank announced in June that it will provide up to US$500 million for construction. However, according to a recent United Nations Report, this may not be sufficient since more than three million people living in mountainous and hard-to-reach areas are in urgent need of help.
Ethnic Forum challenged
While a number of Nepalese associations and groups in New Zealand, along with several other organisations raised financial and material resources for the International Red Cross, the National Police Ethnic Forum chaired by Police Commissioner Mike Bush encouraged its members to rise to the occasion.
A few members of the Forum, including New Zealand Police National Ethnic Advisor Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, Ranjna Patel, Abbess Manshin from Fo Guang Shan and Indian Newslink Editor identified the help needed by the international students from Nepal studying in New Zealand. They were among the hardest hit sections of the community, with suspended flow of funds from their home country and other hardships. They formed a Committee that also included New Zealand Indian Central Association President Harshad Patel, General Secretary Prakash Biradar and Nepalese community representative Raj Maharjan.
The task was to identify students in genuine need of funds and channel the remittances through their respective educational institutions.
Supporting students
The Nepalese student population in New Zealand was stated to be about 2000 and the task was to select deserving students and provide available funds.
Inspector Naidoo and Mr Maharjan processed the applications received, subject them to detailed analysis and presented a summary to other members of the Committee.
Inspiring guests
ISSO Swaminarayan Temple in Papatoetoe held a fundraising Breakfast which raised $15,500; Fo Guang Shan Temple collected $12,000 and Manukau Indian Association mobilized $1400.
Cheques were presented to students at a meeting held at the ISSO Swaminarayan Temple in Papatoetoe on July 26, 2015.
Among those present were Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, Ranjna Patel, Harshad Patel, Prakash Biradar, National Territory Educational Consortium Chief Executive Sam Malafeh and Quantum Education (Intueri Group) Campus Manager Fiona Coyle.
