“Achhe din aane wale hain”
As part of the DCLG’s engagement with the Hindu Community in the UK, and the ongoing discussions that Hindu Council UK have been having with the DCLG – Directors and Representatives of the HIndu Council UK met with Mark Hall and Divya Patel of the Faith Engagement Team from the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) for a meeting at the Peepul Enterprise (formally the Peepul Centre) in Leicester.
The meeting focused on key concerns to Hindus in the UK and issues surrounding integration. Many issues were raised (all of which are contained in the Hindu Council UK’s publications – “Hindu Manifesto & Hindu Report”).
Issues touched on included:
The lack of Hindu representation in Government, Statutory Authorities and Public Appointments, the repeal of the caste legislation, the forthcoming consultation regarding the need for Hindu Crematoriums which HCUK has been leading on for the last 4 years, Funding and Capacity Building for Hindu Temples across the UK, active participation of the Hindu Council UK in Policy, Legislative and Consultation matters, Hindu Faith Schools, the introduction of Yoga in Schools, NHS, & Public Institutions, the need for the UK Government to raise concerns of Hindus being discriminated in Kashmir, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the forthcoming visit to the UK by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, together with a lengthy discussion on the much anticipated launch of the first-ever Hindu Report commissioned by the Hindu Council UK which is a first ever endeavour to present the views and thoughts of the Hindu Community in the UK. It will be the first strategic document of its kind which will draw attention to the aspirations, needs and successes of the British Hindu community across a wide range of areas. The Report will offer government bodies, national institutions and other organisations with a vested interest in promoting integration across all levels of society an insight into the British Hindu community. In addition, the report will assist non-Hindu organisations in working with the current British Hindu population on collaborative projects and allowing them to utilise this information and use it to better understand and work with the Hindu community.
The Directors and Representatives of the Hindu Council UK who attended the meeting were extremely happy with the interaction and we look forward to working closely with the DCLG to progress some of the issues in more detail at a future meeting that has been arranged.
Following the meeting an email was received by Mark Hall (DCLG) stating “Dear Sanjay, Thank you for meeting with Divya Patel and I on Friday at the Peepul Centre. I found the meeting very productive and your work and outlook shows great promise. You also clearly have a network of people that have the same outlook”.
Sanjay Jagatia
Director/Secretary General
Hindu Council UK
Tel: 07969756164
Email: generalsecretary@hinducounciluk.org
Website: www.hinducounciluk.org