US passes legislation to promote Mahatma Gandhi's legacies

The US House of Representatives has passed a legislation that would establish an exchange initiative between the US and India to study the work and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King JrWritten by civil rights icon John Lewis who died early this year and cosponsored by IndianAmerican Congressman Ami Bera the GandhiKing Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act authorises the State Department in cooperation with the Indian government to establish an annual educational forum for scholars from both countries that focuses on the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King JrThe GandhiKing Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act is a fitting tribute to the incredible life amp legacy of John LewisJust like Gandhi and Dr King Rep Lewis shaped the world through his actions of nonviolence amp his commitment to humanrights equality and justice for all httpstcogkJv2SUP62mdash Ami Bera MD RepBera December 3 2020This legislation honours the long standing relationship between the US and people of India and advance his teachings and establish a development foundation that would allow India and the US to work together to address pressing issues like climate change education and public health Congressman Eliott Engel Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said on the House floor on ThursdayJust like Gandhi and Dr King Congressman Lewis shaped the world through his actions of nonviolence and his commitment to human rights equality and justice for all The GandhiKing Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act is a fitting tribute to the incredible life and legacy of John Lewis said Bera the longestserving Indian American lawmakerAs the worlds oldest and largest democracies the US and India have long traditions of upholding these shared values championed by figures like Gandhi King and Congressman Lewis he saidBut they are increasingly under threat in both countries Im proud the House of Representatives passed this legislation which will help these values endure and remind us that by holding true to them we embody and live up to the best of our two nations Bera saidIn 2009 Congressman Lewis led a congressional delegation visit to India to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr King Jrs pilgrimage to IndiaInspired by his visit Congressman Lewis created the GandhiKing Exchange Act to seek to apply the philosophies of Gandhi and Dr King Jr to conflict resolution efforts and current policy challengesThe legislation also authorises to develop a professional development training initiative on conflict resolution based on the principles of nonviolence and establish a foundation to address social environmental and health priorities in IndiaThe measure authorises USD one million a year through fiscal 2025 for the GandhiKing Scholarly Exchange Initiative It authorises USD 2 million for FY 2021 for the GandhiKing Global Academy and USD30 million for 2021 for the USIndia GandhiKing Development FoundationThe development foundation would also be authorised at USD 15 million per year from 2022 through 2025 but only if Indias private sector commits to match US government contributions The Congressional Budget Office CBO estimates that the bill would cost USD 51 million over five yearsCongressman Michael McCaul said that after years of working with India to address their development challenges the United States has seen impressive results The best results so far is that India which once was a recipient of foreign aid is now a donor This is true when it comes to improving water sanitation increasing education and empowering women McCaul saidKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever