S.G.P.C. HELPING HUMANITY AT ALL FRONTS
S ince the formation of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the year 1920, all its Presidents from S. Sunder Singh Ji 'Majithia' to Jathedar Avtar Singh, worked whole heartily for preaching Sikhism all over the world; maintaining Sikh Rehat Maryada and dignity of Sikhs all over the world; apart from maintenance of financial, facility and religious aspects of Gurdwaras and upkeep of Sikh history in the form of archeologically rare and sacred artifacts, including weapons, clothes, books and writings of the Sikh Gurus. SGPC is safeguarding human values in all religions and sections of society, helping poor & needy in all respects. Recently when the floods hit Jammu & Kashmir, SGPC President Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar was first to take initiative for help of its residents. As per instructions of SGPC President, the SGPC officials reached Jammu & Kashmir and immediately started relief work, which are still continued for each and every section of community. SGPC sent more than 100 trucks of relief goods to Jammu & Kashmir, which included eatables, beddings, blankets, etc. Still a team of five doctors of SGPC is in Jammu & Kashmir, for treatment of effected people. Moreover, for the last two months 24 hours free "Langar" (free community kitchen) is in operation, to provide food to poor & flood effected people of Jammu & Kashmir. And most importantly SGPC provided funds to poor girl students of Jammu & Kashmir, who became homeless due to floods. Rs.5000 each to such effected girl were given for her educational expenses and pocket-money. Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar has resolved that the relief work in Jammu & Kashmir will be continued, till all flood affected people are rehabilitated. And it was a first time historical decision taken by Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar in the history of SGPC. Apart, SGPC has always been standing on front, whenever any such natural calamity has hit any part of India, whether it is earthquake in Gujarat, or Tsunami in Andaman-Nicobar or cloud-burst in Leh-Ladakh & Uttrakhand. At all such mishaps, the tremendous role performed by SGPC is unforgettable. Similarly, SGPC also donated Rs.1 Crore to rehabilitate the Sikh families effected during riots in Saharanpur. SGPC also tried its level best for release of Indians held captive in Iraq and also paid Rs.50,000 each to their family members in India. Moreover, up to now, the SGPC has already donated more than Rs.12 Crores to cancer patients; more than Rs.8 Crores to Dharami Faujis; more than 85 Lakhs for education of 1984-riots effected family children; Rs.21 Lakhs to farmers of Village Kuppian (Haryana) whose land has been taken; more than Rs.28 Lakhs to effected persons of Chithisinghpura and Jammu & Kashmir. In a nutshell, wherever the Sikhs have suffered, the SGPC always stood in front to help and serve them. When a mob attacked on a Gurdwara Sahib in Saharanpur and damaged the public property, SPGC came in front to help, without any help from state government of Uttar Pardesh. SGPC also donated Rs.14 Crores for treatment of cancer patients (including Rs.20,000 to each patient) without taking into consideration their caste and creed. Now, the present SGPC President Jathedar Avtar Singh, is successfully carrying on the legacy of his predecessors. During his nine years tenure as president of SGPC from November-2005 to today, Jathedar Avtar Singh is continuously rejuvenating the basic principles of Sikhism among the Sikh Youth, not only in Punjab or India, but all over the world. On the other hand Jathedar Avtar Singh is also dedicatedly stood on the front of educational & medical facilities. Jathedar Avtar Singh has played a vital role in increasing the speed of Amrit-Sanchar programs all over the world, starting from grass-root level of villages; due which a large number of Patit youths have become Amritdhari Singhs. Due to efforts of Jathedar Avtar Singh the continue recitation of 'Gurbani' has started from 'Manji Sahib'. Under the presidentship of Jathedar Avtar Singh the web of schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, being run under the management of SGPC, has spread all over the India. During the regime of Jathedar Avtar Singh, the SGPC has opened a number of Engineering Colleges, besides creation of Directorate of Education to provide quality education to rural areas and tie-up of SGPC run colleges with Cambridge University London. Moreover, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University has also been inaugurated and there are further planning to kick start 'Sri Guru Ram Das Medical University' a world-class medical University with ultra-modern facilities.