Sikh Aid Global
Education
We strongly believe that educating young people is fundamental in order to ensure future success of communities and self-sustainability. The Sikh Aid Scotland, America, Canada has therefore had a strong emphasis on educating children from the Sikligar and Vanjara communities so that in the future they are better able to support themselves, their families as well as passing on their knowledge and skills to future generations.
The Sikh Aid Global helped fund the enrolment of about300 Sikligar and Vanjara children living in the states of MP and Maharashtra to local private schools. The financial support provided helped cover various costs including tuition fees, cost of books, uniform as well as transportation. The total costs for this for a single year was 60 to65 Lakh Rupees. At present we have also employed one Punjabi teacher to teach Punjabi language and Gurmukhi to children so that they have the opportunity to remain attached to their heritage and religion. We hope to build on this in future by employing more Punjabi teachers for other schools.
In addition to this we are also financially supporting a number of selected promising students that have shown significant potential through enrolment into higher education in Universities in various fields including Medicine and Engineering.
Sewing centres
In order to promote self-development for young women from The Sikligar and Vanjara communities, The Sikh Council Aid Global (SAG) has built 8 sewing and training centres to date. These facilities provide learning opportunities to young women who have no access to education. Students successfully completing the course are awarded a new sewing machine, allowing them to generate extra income for their family and become independent. So far the SAG has awarded over 1500 sewing machines. Donations received by the SAG have been used to pay wages of the sewing tutor, who is also a Giani Ji (leaned scholar) providing Sikh education to the local community. Sewing centres was established in the following villages: Pandhurna, Pandali, Barwah, Bhudree, Karhee, Jharniah, Ambajhar, Maata Pur, Jamnian Sarsari,
Eye Camps
In 2007 it was brought to our attention that there were hundreds of village folk in the village of Durg in Chattisgarh who suffered from cataract eye disease and other medical conditions but could not afford to travel to local hospitals for treatment. The SAS assembled a team of doctors to visit them and other villages in the surrounding areas to offer free medical and eye check-ups. Patients were provided with free transport to and from our mobile health clinics as well as meals and accommodation if required. Patients who required further assessment and treatment were referred to the local hospitals, where we also covered the transportation and treatment costs. Since 2007 we preformed health screenings for over 5000 patients at our mobile clinics with 1862 of them being referred to local hospitals and then underwent cataract surgery with high success rates.
Water supply
A number of rural areas in India suffer from chronic water disruptions and poor water quality. Villagers resort to building small wells to source water for domestic use, but this may sometimes be insufficient or may become contaminated. We have thus far installed 22 water extraction motors in various districts in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to provide a continuous supply of clean water to over a thousand families.
Extraction motors built in the following areas:
| Village | State | Village | State |
| Pachour | Maharashtra | .Laria | , Chhattisgarh |
| .Verdha | Maharashtra | .Chirimuee | Chhattisgarh |
| Heaghan Ghat | Maharashtra | ||
| Malegaon | Maharashtra | Farvare | Rajasthan |
| Talegaon | Maharashtra | Katol | Rajasthan |
| Thanegaon | Maharashtra | ||
| Dhapewarha | Maharashtra | Pandhurna | Madhya Pradesh |
| Kamleshwar | Maharashtra | Jamnea Sarsaree | Madhya Pradesh |
| Chandar pur | Maharashtra | Dhoolkot | Madhya Pradesh |
| Martee (Verdha) | Maharashtra | Paangree | Madhya Pradesh |
| Saarwarhi | Maharashtra | Signoor | Madhya Pradesh |
| Kamleshwar (Nagpur) | Maharashtra | Pachoury | Madhya Pradesh |
| Nandoorbar | Maharashtra | Saripani | Madhya Pradesh |
Gurdwara Construction
Gurudwaras
From 2003 till Now
1> The construction of a Gurudwara in the village of Broor, district Amarvati , where many Sikligar Sikhs reside on the main road to Hazoor Sahib. Many travellers going to Hazoor Sahib take rest in the basement of the Gurudwara which also acts as a teaching place for local children living in the Sikligar ‘basti’.
2> Gurudwara on Hydrabad road in the village of Heenganghat
· Above 2 Gurdwaras built with partnership of British Council
3> Guru Amar Dass Darbar at Dev Puri (Raj Pur). Was built by SAS
4> Completed the construction of a Gurudwara building in Vahan Gaon (Mahanrashtar).
5> Gurdwara at Pandhura which was built by Guru Nanak Charitable Trust and comleted by SAS
6> Gurdwara at Aamba Gaon which was started by the community and competed by SAS
7> SAS also built Gurdwaras in the following areas : Lariya (Dist. Rai Pur)
8> ,Kathiya (Dist. Rai Pur)
9> ,Jamanian Sarsaree Madhya Pradesh
10> Poona ,Maharashtra
11> Pichour Maharashtra
12> Hathola Barvani Dist Maharashtra
13> Pachoury Madhya Pradesh (current project)
14>
The Sikh Aid Scotland provided Guru ka langar for 3 consecutive years for Gurudwaras in the villages of Thanegaon, Talehgaon and Thapevarha. This Seva was undertaken by the Sikh Aid Scotland because of the importance of Guru ka Langar in Sikhism and the lack of finances available locally. This Seve was done from 2003 to 2006
Yatra
We also organise annual Yatra (pilgrimage) for Sangat from Sikligar and Vanjara communities to be able to visit the historic Gurdwaras in Delhi, Amritsar, and Anandpur Sahib. Whilst the train travel costs for the Yatra is covered by SAS, the accommodation and local transport in Punjab is kindly organised by the SGPC and in Delhi this is organised by the DGPC, for which we are eternally grateful for.
Individual Support
Help set up a locksmith business for two local families.
Provided raw materials (steel plates and rods) for a family with welding skills but with lack of materials to help make end products for financial income.
We provided financial support of 55,000 Rs in order to help establish local businesses for 5 families. The money was used to purchase materials (eg umbrellas and roof coverings) for re-sale at a profit that will then benefit the families.
Also helped establish two tyre repair shops run by two different families.
In order to help set up a welding business for one family, an electricity meter was funded (at a cost of 5000 Rs) as well as paying for the cost of welding materials. The total cost for this was 30,000 Rs.
Another family been supported with wielding set
In Khaknar and pachouri 25 families support with other business(Umbrellas and Palian)
In Pandurna 13 families supported with business (Palian, umbrellas, raw material, blanket,chatyan)
In Sangnoor another family been supported with steel raw material)
In Sangnoor open a business for 6 families
Noushaira Pannuan Dist Tarntarn:
Helped provide financial support for medical treatment for a young man from a very poor family. He had previously had a metal plate inserted in his arm after he had fractured it in a previous accident. However this had then become infected and the infection had started to spread to rest of his body. The family could not afford his treatment and further surgery to replace the metal plate. The SAS organised his admission to Baba Jagtar Singh Hospital (Taren Taran Sahib) for his further treatment and payment paid by Baba Jagtar Singh (about 3 Lakh)
