15 Jul 2014

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Olebile Gaborone has urged privileged members of the society to join hands with government in the fight against eradication of poverty.

Assistant Minister Gaborone said taking care of the underprivileged was the only way of keeping peace in the world. “There can never be peace in the world as long as there are a lot of people who do not know where their next meal would come from because those people would always be bitter,” Mr Gaborone said.

He was speaking during a recent donation of food hampers and winter blankets to the Botswana Retired Nurses Society (BORNUS) by the Shiv Pariwar Group from Botswana Hindu Society in Tlokweng. 

He further commended Shiv Pariwar group for their noble gesture adding that it was with love that the group was involved in charitable activities.

Mr Gaborone also praised BORNUS for taking care of the elderly, orphans and the sick saying it was through their dedication that Shiv Pariwar Group noticed their efforts and chose to donate to them.

He said the retired nurses could have chosen to spend their retirement with their families but opted to serve the community, hence the Hindu society noticed that. 

For his part, chairman the Botswana Hindu Society, Mr Shyam Arora said the Hindu society was aimed at providing religious cultural activities and engaging in charitable projects in the local communities.

He noted that the gesture was swayed by the guidelines of the Hinduism religion which states that God wants them to try and keep peace, help the needy, pray and ultimately to bond with Him.

“It is our responsibility to visit and care for the needy regardless of their religion because we believe that we are all one big family,” said Mr Arora.

The Shiv Pariwar project coordinator Mr Harish Pathak added that they were also guided by Hindu principle that service to mankind was service to God. He said it was special for their group members to perform a local community service to the needy and elderly people in this bitter cold weather.

Furthermore, Mr Pathak said the day marked the start of a very auspicious day of Shrawan Mass which was dedicated to worshiping and thanking their supreme God which starts in July every year.

“I sincerely hope that this gesture will help those who are suffering from the bitter cold weather as caring for our elders is the holiest of all our obligation,” he said. 

The donations of about 150 winter blankets and food hampers would be given to the elderly, the sick and orphans under the care of the BORNUS centre. ENDS