Vedanta Chief Donates $50,000 Prize Money + Another $21,000 To Anishnawbe Health Foundation
TORONTO: Vedanta Resrouces founder Anil Agarwal was honoured with the Global Indian Award worth $50,000 by the Canada-India Foundation (CIF) at its 15th Annual Gala.
Agarwal immediately donated the $50,000 to the Indigenous Anishnawbe HealthFoundation in solitary with the 2nd Truth & Reconciliation Day and CIF’s ongoing outreach and commitment to work with indigenous communities/ He also added another $21,000 as his personal contribution to make a grand total of $71000 contribution towards the cause.
Premier Doug Ford, Indian Consul-General Apoorva Srivastava and community leaders attended the event to felicitate the mining magnate. Premier Doug Ford praised him for this charity. “I cannot think of any more deserving person (for the award) than Anil Agarwal whose generosity has improved the lives of so many people. You are a role model and an inspiration, Anil,”
In his “CIF Global Indian of the Year 2022 Award” acceptance speech, Anil Agarwal talked about his phenomenal journey, his struggles, his achievements and what India has to offer to this world in the next 25 years, before it celebrates the 100th anniversary of its Independence .
“I have gone all over the world, but I have not seen the kind of bonding in the Indian diaspora anywhere that I see in Canada. Take your businesses to the skies and make Canada proud. You live in the best country in the world,” Agarwal said.
The Vedanta founder said India has been a poor country. “But the time has reversed. The $3-trillion economy is going to be a $30 trillion economy in the coming years. The middle class that is 20 per cent today is going to be 80 per cent in the next six-seven years. We are going to build 150 big cities in India. Indians may be 20 years behind Canada in terms of lifestyle, but their aspirations are so high that with a population of 1.4 billion you can just imagine the (sheer amount of) demand,” he said.
He also praised Canada as a country for its openness, warmth, natural beauty and opportunities for entrepreneurs. “Canada and India have a great future together”
Canada India Foundation (CIF) chairman Satish Thakkar said, “Mr Agarwal’s life story is one that should inspire every youngster growing up, to dream big and persevere to fulfill the dream. As a person who has pledged to give 75 percent of his wealth to charity, Mr. Agarwal is also a philanthropic role model for all. On behalf of CIF and all present, I extend a very very very warm welcome to Mr Agarwal.”
