Bollywood actress Kajol has been appointed goodwill ambassador of the Britain-based Loomba Trust that works for the welfare and education of children of poor widows in India.

"I am honoured and I hope I would be worthy of this appointment, " said Kajol while accepting a plaque from Cherie Blair here Thursday.

Cherie, wife of the former British prime minister Tony Blair, is president of the Loomba Trust.

Kajol attended the annual Diwali dinner organised by the trust. The occasion also marked the UN International Day of Non-Violence, commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The event raised 150, 000 pounds for charity to provide scholarships for the children of poor widows in India.

Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, India's High Commissioner to Britain, congratulated the trust for "a worthy job" and promised his support for its noble efforts.

Cherie said that the trust helped to educate at least a hundred children of poor widows in every state of India that totals 3, 600. She also extended the trust's projects to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.

Raj Loomba, founder trustee and chairman of the trust, said that women often lose their husbands due to violence and it was apt on the day to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary who was an apostle of non-violence.

"We should light a candle tonight to celebrate the festival of lights and give those unfortunate women a ray of hope, " he said.