London: The Hindu community in Britain today (Dec 16, 2003) joined the UK Government and worldwide efforts to lift half a billion people out of poverty globally by 2015.

As part of a Government programme of partnerships with UK faith communities, the Department for International Development (DFID) has teamed up with Hindu Aid, a UK-based charity, to create greater awareness of development issues and encourage members of the UK's Hindu community to help end global poverty.

Announcing the launch of "Target 2015 - Halving World Poverty", which sets out the Millennium Development Goals and how best to support them, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said everyone had a responsibility to ensure that men, women and children all over the world enjoyed equal access to basic rights, food, clean water, livelihoods, health and education.

Arjan Vekaria, chair of Hindu Aid, said, "We will be contacting Hindu organisations, temples, youth and community leaders to create greater awareness of the 1.3 billion people who live in extreme poverty."

"This will increase the assistance and support from British Hindus for international development programmes and highlight universal messages of conciliation, peace and charity that are common to all faith communities."

PTI