News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (March 21, 2026 - March 27, 2026) March 27, 2026 8 Community Respected Nonprofit Pratham Has Transformative ‘Giving Day’ T his past Friday, March 13, Pratham brought together high profile guests and supporters for India Giving Day, celebrating the power of giving. It also raised enough for Pratham USA to support 25,300+ children in India. As part of the day, Pratham hosted a Changemaker Series conversation with cricketer Unmukt Chand and National Board Member Jai Das, who discussed how mentor- ship, education, and community support can help unlock the potential of the next genera- tion. In addition, in-person India Giving Day events were held in Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas. These gatherings brought sup- porters together to celebrate the impact of collective giving, a May 17, press release from Pratham said. Pratham USA CEO & Global Executive, Manisha Bharti co-hosted India Giving Day LIVE, the official virtual broadcast celebrat- ing the impact of the diaspora. Special guest speakers included Vijay Amritraj, M.R. Ran- gaswami, and Isheeta Ganguly. Pratham USA National Board Member Deepak Raj, who also serves as National Co-Chair of India Giving Day and Advisory Council Chair for the India Philanthropy Alliance, also joined the three-hour long con- versation to highlight philanthropy and the power of collective action. During the livestream, Pratham USA shared a major philanthropic commitment from the Saireddy Family Foundation to support programs for vulnerable children in Hyderabad, Telangana in India. This commitment will support the Pratham Council for Vulnerable Children (PCVC), the organization’s child protection and rights ini- tiative which works to prevent child trafficking, child labor, child marriage, and other forms of exploitation while ensuring children from vulnerable circumstances remain engaged in education. PVCV has more than two decades of experience supporting over 40,000 children and families across India. The initiative will be a place-based commu- nity center model and begin by supporting 100 children and their families, providing sustained educational sponsorship. The Community Centres will serve as hubs for learning, mentor- ship, and child protection, ensuring young people receive the support they need to con- tinue their education and pursue opportuni- ties beyond high school. The program will also work closely with families to strengthen access to social protection schemes and livelihood opportunities. With a strong focus on support- ing girls, who often face additional barriers to education, the program will provide sustained guidance beyond high school with pathways to higher education and vocational training that lead to long-term economic independence “We are deeply grateful to the Saireddy Fam- ily Foundation for their leadership and belief in the power of Pratham’s mission,” the organiza- tion said. “The Saireddy Family Foundation and PCVC’s mission are aligned and we are proud to make a long-term commitment that empow- ers children to learn without limits and boldly shape the futures they deserve. Together, we are transforming hope into real, lasting im- pact,” Mahesh Saireddy, Pratham USA National Board member, and his wife Neeti Saireddy are quoted saying in the press release. By a StaffWriter Pratham banner. Cricketer Unmukt Chand, left in conversation with Jai Das. PHOTO:PRATHAM PHOTO:PRATHAM A Multi-Faith Alliance Has Called For Urgent International Action To Protect Hindus In Bangladesh A n alliance of multi-faith organizations, human rights advocates, and prominent individuals has issued an urgent appeal calling on the in- ternational community to act decisively against the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. The appeal was authored and coordinated by Hindus Advancing Human Rights Initiative (HAHRI)—an initia- tive of HinduPACT, an independent nonprofit human rights organization and has now been signed by over 125 organizations and individuals across 15 countries, organizers said in a press release issued February 9, 2026. For more information visit: https://hindupact. org/2026/02/09/global-alliance-of-hindus-and-their- allies-calls-for-urgent-international-action-to-protect- hindus-in-bangladesh/ “The letter documents a systematic, long-running pattern of violence, intimidation, and forced displace- ment targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, a trend that has intensified following the political transition under the Yunus-led interim government,” the press release said.. “The Hindus of Bangladesh are the indigenous peo- ples of the country entitled to have their life and culture protected from discrimination under the UN Conven- tion on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007. What we are seeing is the exact opposite. It is not episodic vio- lence or isolated lawlessness,” said Rahul Sur, Executive Director of HAHRI. “It is a sustained human rights crisis rooted in impunity. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to intervene before an entire indigenous religious community is erased through ethnic cleansing.” The appeal says it has drawn on publicly available reports by international bodies, human rights organiza- tions, and media accounts that chronicle, instances of persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. “Bangladesh’s Hindu population has declined sharply from approximately 22% in 1951 to under 7% today, with estimates indicating that hundreds of thousands of Hindus have fled over recent decades into India. Human rights experts point to this demographic collapse as evi- dence of ongoing ethnic and religious cleansing rather than voluntary migration,” the press release said. “The numbers alone tell a devastating story,” said Ajay Shah, Founder and Executive Chair of HinduPACT. “A democracy cannot selectively protect rights. When a minority shrinks at this scale under persistent violence and intimidation, it is a failure of the state and of the global systemmeant to prevent such outcomes.” The letter from the alliance calls on the US government to: • Designate Bangladesh as a Country of Particular Concern • Dispatch an independent fact-finding delegation • Require regular, public reporting on minority rights by the U.S. Embassy • Review Bangladesh’s participation in UN peace- keeping operations • Provide refugee protections for persecuted Hindus It calls on the European Union to: • Condition trade benefits on measurable improve- ments in minority protections • Initiate parliamentary review of religious freedom violations On the United Nations and OHCHR to: • Publicly condemn violations against Hindus • Establish a fact-finding or monitoring mechanism • Investigate misuse of blasphemy accusations as a tool of persecution On the Government of India to: • Prepare humanitarian measures for displaced Hindus • Track and publicly document rights violations • Explore diplomatic and legal avenues to compel minority protections And the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to: • Condemn violence against Hindus as inconsistent with stated commitments to human dignity By a StaffWriter