SHIROMANI AKALI DAL

NANHI CHHAAN SET TO COOL SOCIAL LANDSCAPE
• Harsimrat launches fifth phase from Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib

Sri Anandpur Sahib, March 9

From Sri Harmandar Sahib to Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib, the movement known as Nanhi Chhaan appears set to expand into a cooling shade across the entire social and religious landscape of the region. This is the dominant impression that emerged from this historic town today as the traditional Holla Mohalla festivities acquired a new social and environmentalist dimension. Thousands flocked the launch of the fifth phase of Ms. Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s pioneering drive in this direction with an enthusiasm bordering on religious fervour.

Distributing saplings and sentiment alike, Ms. Badal said that the Nannhi Chhaan was determined to transform social attitudes of the region by actively campaigning against female foeticide as well as against mindless destruction of trees. “Twenty lakh (20 lakh ) saplings would be distributed by the end of 2009 and each sapling would symbolize the message of the Gurus against sex-discrimination,” declared Ms. Badal

The spontaneity and magnitude of popular response that Harsimrat Kaur Badal received against the backdrop of one of the landmark occasions of Sikh history moved her to push the horizons of her movement as she said, “By the end of 2011, we will lit up every corner in every home with the message which the Gurus left for us as a legacy. And the message is clear, sharp and unequivocal. Disservice to Nature and disrespect to womankind, which is manifest in our disregard for the girl child, are acts of sacrilege against God. We intend to bring about a revolution in social attitudes. This is the minimum we owe to the Gurus whom we claim to adore,” declared she, adding that Sikh religion is the most powerful declaration that spiritualism and social reality do not exist in isolation of each other. Present on the occasion were the chief of the supreme Sikh religous body, the SGPC, Jathedar Avtar Singh and the head of the Takhat sri Keshgarh Sahib at the birth place of the Khalsa, Jathedar Tarlochan Singh, besides Senior leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the members of the SGPC.

Ms. Badal called for an attitudinal change towards the girl child and said that the Nanhi Chhaan movement would work towards transforming the collective psyche of society in this regard. She called upon religious, social and voluntary organizations to play a proactive role in bringing about a change in social attitudes towards the girl child as well as towards environment. “No less a spiritual soul than Guru Nanak Dev ji taught us that religion without social relevance is a meaningless ritual. We owe it to our Gurus to live up to this legacy,” said Ms. Badal quoting soulful passages from Gurbani on Nature and the place of woman in universe.

Ms. Badal was addressing a massive gathering while launching the fifth phase of Nanhi Chaan jointly organized by the Nanhi Chaan and Sri Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee here at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib on the sacred occasion of Hola Mohalla here. Sardarni Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that Punjab was the progressive state not only in the country but across the globe also. But, said Ms. Badal, she lamented that the rising trend of female foeticide in Punjab had brought a bad name to the entire community of Punjabis and this slur on the fair name of development and prosperity of state must be wiped out with concerted efforts. She said;, “The concept of Nanhi Chaan is aimed at bringing awareness amongst the masses against the malady of female foeticide,”.

It may be recalled that the campaign of 'Nanhi Chhaan' was initially launched at Sri Harmandir sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar in August 2008 by distributing saplings as 'Buta Parshad' to newly wedded, expecting women and parents of newly born daughter with an objective to create awareness among people about twin issues of protecting the girl child and environment. The campaign 'Nanhi Chhaan' also involves giving saplings to women devotees coming to the holiest Sikh shrines to plant them in their homes with a pledge to help save the girl child and also the environment during various historical days and celebrations besides it is a permanent feature at Golden Temple and Gurudwara Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo.

Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal pointed out that so far 1.25 lac saplings had been distributed from Amritsar, 62,000 from Talwandi sabo, 50,000 from Fatehgarh Sahib and 92,000 from Muktsar. She said 'Nanhi Chhaan' was now focusing on involving every religion to propagate the philosophy and object of the organization with outmost dedication and firm commitment. She said the Nanhi Chaan programme had evoked a tremendous response from the people of Punjab and she hoped that it would soon reverse the trend of adverse sex ratio in the state. She cautioned that if things continued this way, boys won't get brides leading to major social crisis in the society.

Mrs. Badal asked the Punjab Government to open girls’ schools in the vicinity of every village, facilitating the education and empowerment of girl child. She also underscored the need for imparting vocational training of girl child to increase her employability in the job market and also imparting enabling skills to help her start self-employment ventures.
Mrs. Badal also informed that the similar programees had already been organized at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda) on September 19, 2008 dedicated to Guruta Gaddi Diwas Celebrations. Likewise, another ‘Nanhi Chaan’ programme was organized at Fatehgarh Sahib on December 24, 2008 dedicated to the Martyrdom day of Mata Gujri Ji and younger Sahibjadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji-Baba Fateh Singh and Baba Zorawar Singh. The Fourth programme in the series was orgaised at Muktsar on January 11, 2009 in observance of Maggi Mela dedicated to the Martyrdom of Mai Bhag Kaur and 40 Muktas (liberated once) and She said that today it was the fifth phase of the Nanhi Chaan here at Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib on the occasion of Holla Mohalla. She said it was expected about 1.50 lac saplings would be distributed among the people as a part of the campaign. She also pointed out that SGPC would soon establish four permanent nurseries at Golden Temple Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda) and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib to plant saplings for the said campaign. She said that 20 lac saplings were likely to be distributed by the end of 2009 by organizing these programmes to bring social awakening against female foeticide and the importance of safe and balanced environment.

Mrs. Badal further said that it was the need of hour to organize a series of seminars, symposiums and declamation contests on the theme of female foeticide and clean environment in the educational institutions at School, College and University level to change the mindset of boys and girls at the tender age about these socio-economic problems.

WORLD’S LARGEST EVER BLOOD DONATION CAMP AT HOLA MAHALA SET TO HAVE IMPRINTS ON HISTORY

Chandigarh, March 8, 2009

Hola Mahala, the most sacrosanct annual Sikh festival is all set to mark its imprints in the annals of history this year, as various Panthic Organisations under the aegis of Shri Akal Takht Sahib and SGPC are going to organize the World’s largest ever blood donation camp on March 10. The camp is aiming to clock more than 25 thousand donations in a single day making a new record in Guineas Book.

The mega camp to be organized in mega pandal with 700 beds would have 14 blocks with 50 beds each. There will be 2500 donations in one hour averaging 15 minutes per donor.

To ensure smooth working of blood donation camp 5000 volunteers including 3000 paramedical staff has been deployed for the Camp. A team of 100 doctors has been deployed at different investigation counters. More than 110 blood banks from all over the country are coming to collect blood from this camp. Special arrangements have been made to airlift the donated blood to different parts of the country, on that day itself.

To make this mega event a success case, organizers have arranged for accommodation of 20000 donors with rest of the donors expected from nearby areas of Anandpur Sahib. Big set up has been created for refreshment to the donors and different refreshments including fruit will be served by ‘Kar Sewa Wale Babe’.

Donors are coming from all across the country to become part of this social movement besides to seek blessings from Almighty. A Special train with 1500 donors is coming from Nagpur besides thousands of donors coming by special buses from all across the country.

The inaugural function of camp would be blessed by the Ardas that will be performed by G. Gurbachan Singh Ji, Jathedar Sri Akaal Takht Sahib ji at 6.45 am in the presence of Giani Tarlochan Singh ji, Jathedar Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Jaswinder Singh Ji, Head Granthi Sri Darbar Sahib and Jathedar Avtar Singh Ji, President SGPC.
The first five donors including Giani Jaswinder Singh ji, Head Granthi Sri Darbar Sahib, Baba Harnam Singh Ji, Head Damdami Taksal, patron of orgnising committee of camp S. Bikram Singh Majithia, Prof. Manjit Singh Ji Ex. Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib would mark the beginning of bleeding session of camp at 7 a.m.

To facilitate the donors a reception with 150 counters to fill forms of the donors has also been set up base camp has been set at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Anandpur Sahib.

The camp being organized by various organizations with the leading role of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee is all set to fix a new bench mark in the organizational skills of former Minister S. Bikram Singh Majithia, who as patron of Organizing Committee, was working day and night to make this camp a success. After launching concerted drive against female feticide through Nanhi Chaann Program, this would be another big social cause taken by SGPC during last two year. Chief Minister Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member Parliament S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema and many cabinet ministers of Punjab would visit the camp.

Sukhbir’s proactive campaign floors Congress in first phase of campaigning
• Sukhbir blasts Congress for mortgaging the interests of Punjab

Chandigarh, March 6

Even when the Congress was still confused about choice of their candidates, Shiromani Akali Dal President S. Sukhbir Singh Badal’s whirl wind campaign in Amloh, Gobindgarh and Khanna today took already beleaguered Congress off guard. SAD president today cornered the Congress party by narrating historical details that how and when Congress leadership has sold the interests of Punjab for their short term political survival.

The young & dynamic Akali Dal President besides playing the development card by enlisting achievement of present SAD-BJP government in last two years coupled with his growth oriented vision for next three years also put Congress leadership on mat for mortgaging the territorial and water rights of Punjab during last 60 years.

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal reiterated the resolve of SAD-BJP Government to undo the injustice done to Punjab as far as water and territorial issues were concerned. He said that Punjab would not allow neighboring states to eye on legitimate water share of Punjab. He said that their dream projects to channelise water from Punjab would remain dream only. He also resolved that Punjab was determined to get Punjabi speaking areas including Chandigarh.

Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government was seeking votes from public on the basis of unprecedented development initiated by it in the first two years and promised that their government was determined to restore number one status of Punjab in the country. Focusing on infrastructure development and making Punjab power surplus state, Mr. Badal said that compared to Congress not generating a single unit of power in 5 years, his government has initiated work on four megathermal plants to generate more than 6000 MW power.

Lashing at Congress for neglecting development of Punjab, Mr. Badal said that his government has initiated express ways, 3 international airports and 3 Domestic airports with a combined investment of more than 72 thousand Crores, to take Punjab on higher orbit of development and growth.

Accusing the Congress government for ignoring Punjab’s industry by giving package of concessions to neighboring states, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Punjab would get package on pattern of Himachal and Utrakhand, the day NDA assumes power in the centre. He said that new industrial policy drafted by the government with technical assistance of UNIDO has taken care of demands of small scale and steel industry of the state. He said that it was his government that has disbursed subsidy to the industry running into thousands of Crores that was being kept pending by the Congress since last five years.

Seeking votes for S. Charanjit Singh Atwal SAD-BJP candidate for Fatehgarh Sahib, Mr. Badal said that Mr. Atwal, the development oriented face of Punjab in the parliament left a indelible mark specially while conducting parliament. He said that Mr. atwal was the right candidate to take up the cause of Punjab in the Parliament

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Atwal said that it was SAD-BJP government that has ushered in an era of development in once backward region of Fatehgarh Sahib. He said that besides sanctioning green field international airport with an investment of 17, 500 Crores, the express way in Ludhiana and clustral industrial development in Ludhiana and neighboring districts has generated thousands of jobs despite world wide recession.

Meanwhile, addressing the party workers Capt. Kanwaljit Singh appealed for spectacular victory of party and Mr. Atwal in coming Lok Sabha elections so that party could become more efficient to increase the pace of development in state. Former SGPC President Kirpal Singh Bandugar and a brigade of local SAD-BJP leaders were also present on the occasions.

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