Hindus want Canada to undertake the upliftment of its indigenous people seriously and wholeheartedly and address their problems urgently.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that reported overall well-being and socio-economic gap between aboriginals and other Canadians was distressing and it needed to be narrowed down. Canada should show a strong political will to bridge this gap.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that Canada should provide adequate and high quality assistance to the indigenous populace in the areas of education, health, housing, child welfare, etc. Reports of abuse of indigenous women must be seriously looked into. Indigenous community was reportedly facing crisis like conditions in the housing area, Zed added.
Rajan Zed pointed out that indigenous community needed to be consulted for input when developing programs-policies for them. Indigenous governance capacity should be built and indigenous self-governance institutions should be developed by Canada.
Zed noted that a considerable percentage of indigenous children reportedly lived in poverty in Canada. It was immoral and a sin to watch these indigenous children languish in poverty and do nothing.
Rajan Zed further said that reported continuing neglect and denial of basic human rights to indigenous children was unacceptable and disturbing. Government policies in this direction appeared to have failed and urgent and concrete action was needed to ensure the rights of indigenous children.
Religious leaders of Canada should also come out openly to support the indigenous cause because religion told us to help the helpless, Zed indicated.
Moreover, Canada should invest in First Nations, who needed to be empowered and wholeheartedly supported in reaching their complete potential, Rajan Zed stated.
