Tehelka Reports Donation by Ambassador Madanjeet Singh for Earthquake Victims

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Tehelka, Delhi - 10th November 2005
Diplomat is largest individual donor.

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and former diplomat Madanjeet Singh has announced Rs. 1 crore as earthquake relief for Pakistan and Rs. 50 lakh for the reconstruction of schools in his hometown of Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.

This by far makes him the single largest individual donor to relief work in areas affected by the October 8 quake. Singh had earlier contributed for the victims of the Gujarat riots and the tsunami.

Singh believes that in today’s fast moving world, regional cooperation is indispensable and no country can safeguard its security and economic well being unilaterally. He envisions integration of SAARC economies, with a common currency: ‘Sasia’. South Asia Foundation (SAF), founded by him in 2000, is working in this direction.
   SAF has offices in all SAARC countries. “The vision is that the youth can bring about a change in the mindset, “says SAF-India CEO Professor J.A.K. Tareen.

“The most unique project is schools for small children in Ganderbal near Srinagar, Jammu, Leh and Muzaffarabad with the prime objective to promote cooperation between the two divided parts of Kashmir by jointly designed courses of secular education,” informs Tareen.

Last year an agreement was signed in Paris between UNESCO, the Afghanistan government and Madanjeet Singh to build an Institute for Cultural Heritage in Kabul, and to which SAF contributed a million dollars.