SGPC to facilitate free of cost Delhi to Punjab transport of Punjabi students returning from Ukraine
Resolution demanding direct flights from Amritsar to foreign countries passed in SGPC executive committee meeting
Decision to dispatch 300 holy saroops to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib
Amritsar, March 8:
The annual budget session of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the fiscal year 2022-23 will be held at its headquarter Teja Singh Samundri Hall on March 30. After accepting the recommendations of the budget committee, the approval to call the budget session was given during the executive committee (EC) meeting held under the leadership of SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday.
After the meeting, Advocate Dhami said that the approval has been given to call the budget session on March 30, which will start from 1 pm. During the session, the budget of fiscal year 2022-23 will be passed and priorities would be determined for the future work.
Giving information about the decision taken in the EC meeting, SGPC President said on the issue of launching direct flights to foreign countries to and from Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport at Amritsar, the SGPC will establish liaison with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. Advocate Dhami said in the recent past, the Sikh leaders from Canada and United States of America (USA) have contacted SGPC on this issue, which was taken seriously in the EC meeting.
“About 5 million Sikhs live abroad who have to face inconvenience due to non-availability of direct flights to Amritsar. Direct flights should be started from Amritsar to the USA, Canada, European countries, Australia and the United Kingdom, and for the same, a resolution has been passed by the SGPC executive committee and soon the SGPC will meet the country’s Prime Minister and Union minister of civil aviation”, said Advocate Dhami.
SGPC President said that the EC has also decided to release the annual assistance of Rs 15 lakh to All India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Amritsar. He said Bhagat Puran Singh had set an example for the betterment of humanity and the Pingalwara society is taking forward his vision. “SGPC will continue annual assistance of Rs 15 lakh to Pingalwara society”, said Advocate Dhami.
He said that SGPC will also serve the Punjabi students who are returning from the war-torn country Ukraine by facilitating their return from Punjab from Delhi.
“An agreement has been reached with Indo-Canadian bus service, which will bring these students from Delhi airport to Punjab. SGPC will also provide them refreshments and to assist the students in Delhi, the staff members of Delhi Sikh Mission have been deputed for this task”, said SGPC President.
SGPC President said that today it is the age of social media and the EC has approved new amendments and guidelines to further strengthen the information technology (IT) wing of the organisation.
He said that a committee was constituted to streamline the IT wing and its recommendations would be implemented. In today’s era, the Sikh issues are being deliberately complicated and programs would be released to discuss and provide authentic information regarding the same. Moreover, bulletins of reliable Sikh news will also be released and programs on Sikh history and doctrines will be launched.
SGPC President said that the EC has also decided to dispatch 300 holy saroops (scriptures) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as per the demand received from Takht Sachkhand Sri Abchalnagar Hazur Sahib, Nanded. He said these holy saroops will be sent in a special bus with due reverence and conduct to the Sangat of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
SGPC President Advocate Dhami also demanded speedy release of Sikh prisoners. “Indifference of government on Sikh concerns is highly unfortunate and the Sikhs should get their rights as per the Constitution of the country. Sikh prisoners who have served three decades of imprisonment are not being released and some of them were even not granted parole”, said Advocate Dhami.
Lashing out at the Delhi government, Advocate Dhami said, “Kejriwal government of Delhi is adamant against the Centre’s decision of releasing Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and the SGPC will soon meet the Union home minister on this issue.”
SGPC President also announced to send ration and supplies to the jails on the occasions of Sangrand and Gurpurb.
He also informed that a delegation of SGPC met Karnataka chief minister Shri Basavaraj Bommai and education minister BC Nagesh, regarding the issue of barring Sikh children from attending education institutions with turban in Bengaluru and Mangalore and the ministers have assured that this will not happen in future.
During the EC meeting, approval was also given to provide a 3 per cent dearness allowance (DA) to the employees of SGPC. Advocate Dhami said a special allowance of Rs 1,000 will be given to the employees having salary up to Rs 20,000; Rs 500 for salary between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. Similarly, an increase in salary has been given of Rs 1,000 to bilmukta employees, Rs 15 per day to daily wagers, Rs 500 per month to part time employees.
Apart from SGPC President, those present in the EC meeting included senior vice-president S. Raghujit Singh Virk, junior vice-president Principal Surinder Singh, general secretary Jathedar Karnail Singh Panjoli, EC members S. Sarvan Singh Kular, S. Jarnail Singh Dogranwala, S. Balwinder Singh Vain Puin, S. Harjap Singh Sultanwind, S. Gurinderpal Singh Gora, S. Amarjit Singh Bandala, Bibi Gurpreet Kaur, S. Jodh Singh Samra, Baba Gurpreet Singh, SGPC secretary S. Mohinder Singh Ahli, additional secretary S. Partap Singh, S. Sukhminder Singh, OSD to SGPC President S. Satbir Singh Dhami, assistant secretary S. Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, S. Balwinder Singh Kahlwan, S. Sukhbir Singh, S. Nirvail Singh, superintendent S. Malkit Singh Beharwal, in-charge S. Shahbaz Singh, S. Gurnam Singh, S. Azaddeep Singh, S. Gurcharan Singh Kohala, S. Lakhbir Singh and more.