NEW YORK CITY (TIP): New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer hosted Diwali celebrations on October 25 when 3 leading community service organizations were honored for their services. The honored organizations included Chhaya Community Development Corporation (CDC), Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Nepal, and South Asian Council For Social Services.

The customary prayers were offered by Pandit Manoj Jadubans, followed by the Diya lighting ceremony. At hand were Comptroller Scott Stringer, Dr. Neeta Jain, District Leader, Assembly District NY – 25, Neeta Bhasin, President and CEO of ASB Communications, who introduced the Comptroller and a large number of guests.

In his remarks, the Comptroller described Diwali as a celebration of good over evil and noted it was a major festival of India. He offered his greetings to Indian American community on the occasion. He spoke of the tremendous contribution of Indian American community to the growth of New York and the US in general.

Queens College Bhangra Knights gave a thrilling performance of Bhangra which is a folk dance of Punjab, and a rage all over the world.

Here is a brief biography of Honorees.

CHHAYA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CDC)

Chhaya CDC was founded in 2000 to advocate for the housing needs of New York City’s South Asian community. Chhaya’s mission is to work with New Yorkers of South Asian origin to advocate for and build economically stable, sustainable, and thriving communities.

Chhaya carries out this work in several ways, including free direct services, education, community organizing, and research and policy advocacy. Our work encompasses tenant rights, financial capacity and asset building, sustainable homeownership, civic engagement, immigration, and broader community building and research and advocacy around community needs.

By focusing on core areas of housing and economic development—the basic necessities essential to one’s stability—Chhaya is able to impact a range of social outcomes, including education, financial well-being, civic participation, and community pride. Through our work, Chhaya aims to develop a framework that will achieve long-term stability for New Yorkers of South Asian origin, giving them the tools and resources that will enable them to create positive, lasting change in their lives.

FEDERATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF NEPAL

Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Nepal in America (FIPNA) is a not for profit organization registered in the State of New York since 2005. Its headquarters are in the City of New York and its wings are extended to various cities and states in the United States. FIPNA is a federal organization comprising of 18 indigenous Nepali community organizations in New York and beyond. The primary purposes of FIPNA are to preserve and promote the indigenous cultures of Nepali communities and help enrich the diversity of the City of New York. FIPNA also participates and advocates for the immigrants’ rights in the city and help in the empowerment of the Nepali communities in the mainstreaming process.

In coordination with the member organizations FIPNA hosts a couple of events each year which have significant impacts upon its communities and the city we live in. FIPNA hosts and leads the mega event Nepal Day Parade each year in the City of New York which helps the Nepali communities feel proud of for the diversity of the city. FIPNA is one of the major immigrants’ rights organizations who have advocated and endorsed the Citizenship Fund proposed by the NYC Comptroller, Honorable Scott M. Stringer. Nepal Indigenous Film Festival is another mega event hosted annually by FIPNA to observe Nepali cultural heritages in New York.

For further information please visit: www.fipnausa.org

SOUTH ASIAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

South Asian Council for Social Services, SACSS was founded in 2000, with the mission to empower underserved South Asians and other immigrants to actively engage in the economic and civic life of New York. While SACSS, started as a healthcare and social services agency it has grown and adapted to the changing needs of the population it serves. In the last 17-years SACSS has emerged as a gateway to new immigrants who are trying to gain a foothold in their new socioeconomic environment. Through services in the areas of Healthcare Access, Benefits and Senior Services, South Asian Food Pantry, English and Computer Classes and Civic Engagement, the organization assists immigrants to become self-reliant. Over 5,000 clients are served every year by staff that is culturally competent and speaks 11 South Asian languages (Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Kannada, Telegu, Tamil, Malayalam, Nepali and Marathi) and Spanish and Creole.

In July 2016 SACSS started the first and only South Asian Food Pantry in New York City. In just one-year, the pantry has grown to serve 1,007 clients. This program addresses the issue of hunger and food insecurity among the underserved by ensuring clients receive food that is culturally palatable.