At the WFUNA Foundation India launch at MEA

With External Affairs Minister, Smt Sushma Swaraj, Ms Kiran Mehra-Kerpelmen, Mr HM Bangur, Mr Parvesh Khanna and others at the launch of WFUNA Foundation in India

March 5, 2015: I returned to Kolkata from Delhi last night. On Monday (March 2), I was on my desk the whole day preparing for the World Federation of United Nations Association (WFUNA) Foundation launch in India.

On Tuesday, I took a morning flight to Delhi for the WFUNA Foundation formal launch hosted by the Hon’ble Minister for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister, Smt Sushma Swaraj.

The launch of the WFUNA Foundation in India after years and years of my effort has finally become a reality. 

High tea with Smt Sushma Swaraj, MEA officials and WFUNA representatives

It was nice of Smt Swaraj not only to host the event at the premises of the Ministry of External Affairs but also to host a high tea for the guests. She met the guests with much warmth and stayed with us for the high tea as well.
The function was a brief 30-minute affair during which a logo of WFUNA Foundation was formally launched by Smt Sushma Swaraj.
In her speech, Smt Sushma Swaraj, said, “I am confident that the setting up of the WFUNA Foundation in India will go a long way in accomplishing its mission of a stronger and more effective United Nations so that this unique organisation continues to be relevant to the hopes and aspirations of mankind in the years ahead. The thrust of WFUNA’s programs on the issues of sustainable development, education, youth and human rights are issues which the Government of India considers extremely important, both in the national and international context.”
Besides Smt Sushma Swaraj and senior representatives of the External Affairs Ministry, also present on the occasion were Mrs Kiran Mehra-Kerpelmen, Director, UNIC for India and Bhutan, Mr H M Bangur, Industrialist and supporter of WFUNA in India, Othets member of advisory board and trustees of WFUNA Foundation, officials of Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA) and number of representatives of the diplomatic corps of UN member countries in Delhi and media persons.
I, as the Treasurer of WFUNA, said in my welcome speech that with the launch of WFUNA Foundation the ideas and vision of WFUNA, which has 100 UNA members and their constituents, would be better articulated and carried forward in India. I may mention that peace and security, sustainable development and human rights are some of the core policy areas of WFUNA.
Being one of world's leading emerging economies the International focus is on India. I think the timing of the launch of the India Chapter of WFUNA Foundation could not have been better. I look forward to many new events and activities of WFUNA in India.
Yesterday, I had a couple of more meetings, one of them with a prominent media house in Noida that was long due. Today, though a holiday in West Bengal, was a working day in office as I am planning to take leave to celebrate Holi tomorrow. On Saturday I shall leave for South India.
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