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AIO Aims and Objectives

To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of communities of people of Indian origin in Scotland in particular, but not exclusively.
To promote the advancement of education among people of Indian origin.
To work for the relief of sickness, suffering and distress.
To relieve poverty among people of Indian origin either living in Scotland or elsewhere.
To co-ordinate the activities of Indian Organisations in Scotland to help realise their full potential for the benefit and welfare of the communities of people of Indian origins in Scotland.
To promote equality of opportunity and good relations among persons of different racial groups.

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Before AIO

People of Indian origin are the second largest minority ethnic population after Pakistani community in Scotland.
The office of the Indian Assistant High Commission in Glasgow had been serving the Indian community over several decades.
In 1984 the government of India closed the Indian Assistant High Commission’s office in Glasgow.
The Indian government had been unsuccessfully lobbied repeatedly through various channels to reopen its Glasgow office.
During mid-1994, a group of leaders of Indian organisations from Glasgow and Edinburgh had a meeting to form an umbrella body to work together from a collective platform to tackle the problems of visa/passport, racism, and other issues related to Indian diaspora in Scotland.

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Formation of AIO

The constitution was ready towards the end of 1994, and it was decided to form the Scottish Confederation of Indian Organisations, with its head office in Glasgow.
A large majority of the leaders of Glasgow organisations were in favour of Glasgow as its head office.
As there was no consensus on the preferred location of the head office, so decision was taken to form two separate Associations.
Association of Indian Organisations (AIO), Glasgow and Association of Indian Organisations (AIO), Edinburgh.
The first general election of the Association of Indian Organisations (AIO), Glasgow, was held in March 1995.

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First Committee

Mr. Balraj Krishan Marwaha (President)
Mr. Gurdev Singh Virhia (Vice President)
Mr. Seva Singh Kohli (General Secretary)
Dr. Serjender Singh (Assistant Secretary)
Mr. Charan Dass Bains (Treasurer)
Mr. A. P. Kaushal & Mr. Joga Singh (Auditors)

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Achievements

The first Indian Consulate Office was opened towards the end of 1995.

Mr. P. L. Goyal was the first Consul General of India.

Opening of the office of Consul General of India

The First Indian Consulate Office

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Achievements

In the nineties there were significant natural calamities in India

Orrisa hurricane,
Bihar famine,
Gujrat earthquake etc.

The members of AIO raised £30,000 for Orrisa, £20,000 for Bihar and £16,000 for Gujrat to support the victims of hurricane, famine and earthquake respectively.

Fundraising for Indian natural disasters relief

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Achievements

The then Lord Provost of City of Glasgow, Liz Cameron was organizing the development of an orphanage in Sri Lanka, for children whose parents died in the tsunami.
AIO staged a concert in the S.E.C.C to raise funds for the orphanage in Sri Lanka.
Jaya Prada, Jaya Bachchan and M.P. (India) Amar Singh, represented India at the concert.
AIO raised net £20,000 and donated it to the Lord Provost Liz Cameron.
AIO also raised £16,000 and donated it to the GURU NANAK TRUST GLASGOW to spend on the Pingalwara in Punjab, India.

AIO Concert

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Achievements

The committee arranged for AIO to gain charitable status.

AIO Charity Status

Victim Support

Incidents of racism, discrimination, police harassment, housing etc. were reported to AIO and the latter (AIO) approached the respective departments and asked them to address incidents to the satisfaction of victims.

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Achievements

Research was undertaken on health-related issues like diabetes, blood pressure, over- weight, cholesterol etc. within the Indian community in Glasgow.
Doctors of Indian heritage volunteered to run special clinics at Hindu and Sikh temples. Medical checks were carried out to identify and log health issues. Expert advice was given to those who needed it.
A booklet was published. Nicola Sturgeon, the then Health Minister for the Scottish Parliament kindly came to the Glasgow City Chambers to launch this booklet.

Health Research

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Achievements

The Glasgow City Council awarded £10,000 to the Indian Community and £30,000 to the Pakistani Community respectively to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Independence of their native countries.
Mr. Kohli, the then General Secretary of AIO contacted Glasgow City Council to highlight the discrimination against the Indian community.
Glasgow City council over-turned their decision and matched the £30,000 payment for the Indian community to allow for Indians to also come together to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of India’s Independence.

Sought Funding Equality

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Achievements

Golden Jubilee

of India’s

Independence

Celebration

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Golden Jubilee

of India’s

Independence

Celebration

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Golden Jubilee

of India’s

Independence

Celebration

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Golden Jubilee

of India’s

Independence

Celebration

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Golden Jubilee

of India’s

Independence

Celebration

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Achievements

The 60^th and 70^th anniversaries of India’s Independence were celebrated at Glasgow Celtic Stadium and Glasgow Royal Concert Halls respectively
Those were very successful events, with venues full to capacity.
The then Consul General of India, the then Lord Provosts, M.Ps. MSPs, councillors and many community leaders were invited.
Nicola Sturgeon (First Minister) attended the 60^th Anniversary of Indian Independence as a special guest.
For the 70^th anniversary of Indian Independence celebration, the artists were invited from Kolkata and Delhi. They mesmerised the audience with their performances.

60^th & 70^th Anniversary Celebrations

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62^nd

Independence

Celebration

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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AIO celebrates

70th Anniversary of

Indian Independence

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Achievements

AIO organised a special reception for the athletes, who came to Glasgow to participate at the Commonwealth Games 2014.
The whole city was in the mood of celebration and local dignitaries as well as Indian Officials, including the complete Indian Olympic Committee members, attended a dinner reception at the River Palace, where more than 350 guests were present.
This event consisted of entertainment, reception of the Indian team and reception dinner.
The event was memorable during the magical experience of Commonwealth Games 2014.

Commonwealth Games 2014

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Commonwealth Games 2014

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Commonwealth Games 2014

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Commonwealth Games 2014

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Commonwealth Games 2014

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Commonwealth Games 2014

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Commonwealth Games 2014

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Achievements

AIO celebrated the 550^th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the Woodside Hall Glasgow on 5 October 2019.
There was a recitation of the Holly Shabads, speeches on the life of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and an exhibition on the life of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was also displayed in the hall.
It was the first time that a celebration of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was held in a public hall in Glasgow.
This event was financially supported by the Indian High Commissioner’s office, London.
Senior Vice President, Sohan Singh Randhawa, put enormous effort in making this event a grand success. He was instrumental to bring together the community in a cohesive manner.

550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

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Achievements

A Sikh Awareness evening was organised by AIO on 2 November 2019 in the Otago ST. Gurdwara Hall.
This evening program was presented and demonstrated by Mr. Mohan Singh, president of the Sikh Awareness Society in England. The event was very well attended and informative.
Thanks to Mr. Hardial Bhari, who helped AIO to facilitate this awareness raising event in Glasgow.

Sikh Awareness Event

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Achievements

First Indian Diaspora Day was celebrated in Glasgow on behalf of the Consul General of India, Mrs. Anju Ranjan, at the Lorne Hotel, Glasgow.
This event was extremely successful and well supported with attendance exceeding 250 guests from wider Indian community.
Senior Vice President, Sohan Singh Randhawa, very successfully co-ordinated the event.

Indian Diaspora Day

International Day of Yoga

Running this event for the past eight years ever since its inception. International Yoga Day celebration in partnership with Patanjali Yog Peeth (UK) Trust at the Emirates Arena was attended by over 500 people.

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Achievements

During Lockdown, AIO helped Indian students in Glasgow and Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland by providing cooked meals, groceries and basic provisions.
Additionally, they helped with rent and in some cases their airfares back to India.
Many Indian students, who were holding part-time employment to supplement their expenses experienced financial difficulties because part-time jobs are not available due to lockdown.
AIO joined with the Hindu Mandir Glasgow, United Scotland Malayalee Association (USMA) and Glasgow Indians to supply food to Indian students, Homeless, NHS, Police and the Ambulance staff.

Provisions for Students during Covid Crisis

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AIO’s COVID

Response

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AIO’s COVID

Response

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AIO’s COVID

Response

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Achievements

AIO assisted Scottish universities with students suffering from mental health issues due to the COVID pandemic.
University of Glasgow has requested that AIO form an ongoing relationship to support Indian students.
Funding was obtained from in-faith organisations, churches, East Renfrewshire Faith Forum, local Indian businesses such as Apple Pharmacy, Randev Family, Bombay Blues, Bank of India, Lal&Co and many others from the wider community donating generously.

Provisions for Students during Covid Crisis

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Achievements

The Consul General of India, Edinburgh, Mr. Hitesh Rajpal, asked the General Secretary of AIO, Mridula Chakraborty, to coordinate with the Air India Office in London to assist in the repatriation of the Indian students to travel back to India as part of VANDE BHARAT MISSION.
AIO assisted with the payment of students’ train fare from Glasgow to
London, overnight hotel accommodation and in very special cases subsidised their fare to India.
AIO and USMA have facilitated travel back to India for several students to different cities in India.

Repatriation of Indian Students during Covid

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Achievements

AIO provided assistance to support efforts to deal with the second wave of COVID-19 in India
Fund raising was initiated by AIO, The Glasgow Hindu Mandir, USMA and several community businesses such as, Apple Pharmacy, Randev family, Bombay Blues, and friends of AIO.
Funds collected were used to send 1100 Pulse Oximeters and 20 Oxygen Concentrators to various hospitals in chosen states of India through the Indian Medical Association.

Covid-19 Second Wave Support

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AIO’s COVID

Response

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Achievements

Running regular consular camps on behalf of the Indian High Commission and Consulate General of India

Regular Consular Camps

National Language Hindi Divas Day

National Language Hindi Divas Day held on behalf of the Consulate General of India (Edinburgh), at the Hindu Mandir, Glasgow.

Open public meeting with Senior Detective of Police Scotland was held at the Mel Milaap Elderly Care Centre to discuss the issues relating to Asian house break-ins and gold burglary in their households.

Public Police Meeting

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