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On the ISC Front
Lt Gen Kartar Singh
When at the end of the year 2006, the late distinguished Sikh scholar, Dr Kharak Singh ji planned and launched the International Sikh Confederation (ISC) after and extended brainstorming discussions with Indian and foreign Sikh Activists, l had just retired and settled down in Chandigarh. One day I received a call from this very active Sikh group that they were indeed struggling to some space for a Sikh Institution at the present Gurdwara Sahib at Tribune Chowk. I willingly joined their genuine struggle.
We worked hard to dig out the history of this Gurdwara and we were happy to note that the only Hindu family living on this part of the village land was allotted as per the division agreed to by both the communities. So, the Sikhs were very happy to handover Mandir land to the Hindus and where they had already built a mandir on their portion.
We now have the Mandir on about 1/3 of the main plot as divided by a road as division between The Gurdwara / Mandir, within the Gurudwara area IOSS (Institute of Sikh Studies) was then established. In 2005, ISC was founded after being alloted two small rooms at the Kendri Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Plot No. 1 Sector 28-A, Chandigarh. This nearly 3 acre plot has been developed by a very well self-organized group of Sikh benevolent organizations.
ISC has selected village schools in Mukandpur (Dist Nawan Shehar), Moga suburbs, Shergarh (Patiala), Pandori Khajoor (Hoshiarpur), and Dosanjh in Distt Moga as ISC coaching centres. We have also chosen Gurdwara Sahib Sector 34 Chandigarh which runs a good school at Swara just outside the city recently and it is making very good progress indeed.
In appreciation of our dedicated efforts, ISC has been receiving handsome donations for granting scholarships to Sikh minority students under the PM's Ten Point programme. ISC has ensured regular monthly scholarships which are credited directly into the students Bank accounts. Punjab alone has been receiving up to RS 280 cores per annum under this scheme under the supervision of ISC and its partners. Besides the PMs Scheme, ISC has on its own raised funds from it's about 450 Members. This amount has been used on Education of Poor Students in Rural Areas by the ISC since its inception.
In the early days of the ISC functioning, we were very short of funds. We then decided to increase our speed of collecting funds by regular visits to Members/ donars. This resulted in our reaching out to the rural students much faster. We give below a list of some of our valuable donors.
S.No NAME OF STUDENTS &ADDRESS MONETORY AIDS
1. Bibi Sumandeep Kaur d/o S. Piara Singh Grewal VPO-Hathar, Teh. Jagraon, Distt Ludhiana Rs. 81,540/-
2. S.Tejinderbir Singh# 74/7 Kazian Chowk, Distt-Tarntaran Rs. 50,000/-
3. S. Jaswinder Singh, Mohala Mohtataj Garh
P O Distt Kapurthala Rs. 48,900/-
4. S.Deepjot Singh s/o S. Jaspal Singh, # 5501, MH Complex,Chandigarh Rs. 26,000/-
5. Bibi Inderdeep Kaur w/o S. Jaswinder Singh
R-3, Upkar Nagar, Near Coca Cola Agency,
Jalandhar Rs. 20,000/-
6. Bibi Sandeep Kaur, # 3002, Sector 20-D, Chd. Rs. 20,000/-
7. Bibi Amanpreet Kaur, # 21/24,
Model House Jalandhar Rs. 15,100/-
8. Bibi Prabhjot Kaur d/o Narinderpal Singh,
#1539, Ranjit Nagar, Kharar Rs. 11,000/-
9. Bibi Gurpreet Kaur, #186, Desu Majra, Kharar,
Mohali Rs. 11,000/-
8. S. Kulbir Singh s/o Sh. Gian Singh, Sector 70,
Mohali Rs. 6,000/-
9. Bibi Manjeet Kaur, Vill - Seal, P.O Gharaha
Distt Mohali Rs. 4,000/-
Total Rs. 2,93,540/-
Homework Assistance Tution Centres in Village
Finding this a very beneficial Educating device to carry Education uplift to remote villages, ISC has stepped up the number in this category of active locations in Amritsar District too. Our representative S. Jatinder Singh who is very a hard working and successful worker-Leader, has helped us a lot by also joining up with Col J S Multani in working in the Hyderabad Area.
One such Home work assistance tuition centre is at villages Chainpur (Amritsar) in Govt Elementary School where poorest of poor parents children are studying. They need extra tuition to catch up with other students. Ms Sukhdeep Kaur, the Teacher has taken responsibility to take on the Home work assistance tuition classes by Col Multani and S. Jatinder Singh Amritsar have been visiting school frequently.
New ISC Centre at Hydrabad
Some Local donors have come up to help construction of additional accommodation for the school and renovation of Gurudwara sahib which is going on in full swing under guidance from Col JS Multani, S. Jatinder Singh Amritsar and Shri Hardev Singh (Sikligar Member). Almost 70% work has been completed and the rest shall be completed by June/July 2020. ISC has set up a sort of record in getting a high school started within a year at Hydrabad. New admissions are already on the way. This year we hope to increase the number of students from 105 to 150 at this school.
ISC is performing this humble community, service through these above mentioned activities. We seek the active cooperation and support of valued members donors and patrons.
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